STATE POLLS | Penang PAS secretary Iszuree Ibrahim is still unwilling to break his silence over the incident involving him and Gerakan president Dominic Lau.
“No comment,” he replied via WhatsApp to Malaysiakini.
Malaysiakini had asked him if Penang PAS would heed the leadership’s call to “assist and protect” Lau during the campaign period.
On Tuesday night, Iszuree stopped the Gerakan president from joining other Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders on stage for a ceramah, telling the latter to leave as he was not invited.
The PAS leader had refused to comment on his actions when quizzed later while Lau downplayed the issue, claiming he left on his own accord after failing to meet PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang due to time constraints.
Local PAS members are upset after the Gerakan president was named as the PN candidate for the Bayan Lepas seat - a Malay-majority constituency - and threatened to boycott the polls.
Iszuree was expected to be the candidate for the seat.
Saifuddin: Not reflective of Islamic characteristics
Weighing in, Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the treatment meted out to Lau is not reflective of PAS’ Islamic characteristics.
He opined that PAS members also failed to follow the example of Prophet Muhammad.
“PAS champions Islam, so is it right for them to be rude to a component party? PAS should not have behaved in this manner towards Lau even if there are differences of opinion on the choice of candidates.
“Prophet Muhammad is the next example. Though he was treated harshly by his foes, he did not reciprocate in the same manner, but treated them well,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan has since apologised for the discourteous treatment and urged PAS members to respect the leadership’s decision.
He said PAS, as the oldest and largest Islamic party in Malaysia, has a responsibility to “assist and protect” those who are in need.
“Based on this background, PAS sees Lau and Gerakan as part of the group which needs assistance and protection.
“I reiterate the call for PAS members to be magnanimous in extending a helping hand on the principle of friendship and brotherhood,” he added.
On the same note, Takiyuddin said PAS was aware that politics within a coalition can lead to instances of dissatisfaction and disappointment over the allocation of seats or the nomination of candidates.
Meanwhile, a grateful Lau was willing to turn the other cheek.
“We can resolve matters internally. Of course, we are grateful to PAS for apologising and we accept it. We must put aside any grudges and focus on the campaign,” he added. - Mkini
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