PAS could also be deemed to have ‘technically’ left Perikatan Nasional (PN) if it held behind-the-scenes negotiations with other parties without the coalition’s mandate or knowledge, says Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.
He was responding to PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, who said earlier today that Bersatu remained legally part of PN but had ‘technically’ left the coalition after contesting the recent Negeri Sembilan state election under its own logo.
Tun Faisal questions PAS’ actions
Speaking to FMT, Tun Faisal questioned whether the same reasoning used against Bersatu could also be applied to PAS over alleged behind-the-scenes negotiations with parties outside PN without the coalition’s mandate or knowledge.
He cited the ‘Bangkok Move’ as well as negotiations between other parties before the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.
Tun Faisal also questioned whether PAS could be considered to have ‘technically’ left PN if its president, Abdul Hadi Awang, did not abide by decisions made by the PN Supreme Council, including its decision on the opposition leader.
The PN Supreme Council initially chose PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as opposition leader on May 16. However, Hadi bypassed the council on June 13 and reinstated Hamzah Zainudin to the position.
Bersatu leaders and aides, including former aide to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, Marzuki Mohamad, and Tun Faisal, criticised Hadi after he said Hamzah’s appointment had never been discussed or approved by the PN Supreme Council.
‘Don’t invent the term “technically” to justify actions that clearly violate the PN constitution,’ Tun Faisal told FMT.
‘This is one of the main problems within PN. Actions and decisions are made based on PAS’ political interpretation, not PN’s constitution.’
Dispute over Bersatu’s status
Earlier today, Takiyuddin said Bersatu remained a component party of PN from a legal and constitutional standpoint.
He said Bersatu’s status as a PN component party could not be legally denied despite PAS suspending political ties with the party.
Relations between PAS and Bersatu began to show cracks towards the end of last year, with tensions eventually culminating in PAS ending its political cooperation with Bersatu in June.
Muhyiddin later accused PAS, which now chairs PN, of leading the opposition coalition astray and making it ‘toxic’.
Bangkok talks resurface
In January, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that he had met several PAS and Bersatu leaders in Bangkok last December to discuss efforts to unite the Malays through a ‘grand coalition’.
Muhyiddin had alleged that the talks were part of efforts to restructure the government.
He also cited the Bangkok discussions as one of the reasons for the dismissal of then Bersatu deputy president Hamzah from the party in February.
