Kedah Bersatu reps to keep backing Sanusi until told otherwise

 Bersatu has yet to order them to withdraw support for the Kedah MB despite PAS deciding to end its alliance with the party last night.

Bukit Kayu Hitam assemblyman Halimaton Shaadiah Saad and Kota Siputeh assemblyman Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir said they are waiting for the Bersatu leadership’s orders following PAS’s decision to cut ties with the party last night.

PETALING JAYA:

Bersatu’s Kedah assemblymen will continue backing menteri besar Sanusi Nor of PAS unless they are ordered otherwise by their party’s central leadership.

Bukit Kayu Hitam assemblyman Halimaton Shaadiah Saad said the central Bersatu leadership has yet to order them to withdraw support for Sanusi despite PAS deciding to end its alliance with Bersatu.

“We accept (PAS’s decision) … and we will follow (the Bersatu top leadership’s) orders. We also thank the menteri besar (for allowing Bersatu to play a role in his administration). But if the party orders us (to retract support), we will have to comply.

“Nonetheless, we haven’t been ordered to do so yet,” the state welfare, women, family and community committee chairman told FMT.

Kota Siputeh assemblyman Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir also said they are waiting for Bersatu to give them orders following PAS’s major decision last night.

“For now, the Bersatu leadership hasn’t met yet. We await the central leadership’s directive.

“But in Kedah, the relationship between (PAS and Bersatu) assemblymen is fine. We have no issues with one another,” he added.

Yesterday, PAS decided to sever its relationship with Bersatu and look for a new pact to face upcoming elections with the goal of “uniting the ummah”.

Earlier today, Sanusi said he would not reshuffle his state executive council despite the PAS leadership’s decision, saying Bersatu executive councillors would continue holding their portfolios as long as they continued backing his government.

Three Bersatu assemblymen are part of the state government, namely Halimaton, Salleh Saidin (Kubang Rotan) and Dzowahir Ab Ghani (Suka Menanti).

PAS has 21 seats in the 36-member Kedah assembly, which means it has a simple majority to govern the state on its own, if it wants to.

Bersatu holds nine seats and Gerakan one, while two former Bersatu assemblymen are now independents after being sacked from the party last month.

Pakatan Harapan holds the remaining three seats. - FMT