Selangor PAS deputy information chief Nurul Islam Yusoff has strongly rejected allegations by a former aide to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin that PAS bears responsibility for the internal conflicts within Perikatan Nasional.
In a Facebook post, Nurul Islam said Marzuki Mohamad’s earlier remarks misrepresented PAS’s position on Muhyiddin’s resignation as PN chairman and the recent appointment of the new Perlis menteri besar.
He described it as unfair to criticise Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar for telling Muhyiddin that he was “finished” leading PN.
Muhyiddin had already publicly announced his resignation as PN chairman effective January 1.
“Once the resignation is submitted, it is natural to say his time as chairman is over,” Nurul Islam wrote.
Explaining the ‘your time is finished’ remark
Nurul Islam clarified that the phrase “your time is finished” referred to Muhyiddin’s continued efforts to influence the coalition after stepping down.
He said if Muhyiddin, having agreed to resign, still tries to dominate proceedings, select successors, or even attempt a return to leadership, then such comments become understandable.
“Muhyiddin agreed to step down, but now he’s dragging his feet. It’s like a driver who agrees to stop working, but leaves with the car’s steering wheel. What’s going on?” he asked.
Tensions between PAS and Bersatu escalated after last month’s Perlis political crisis, when a Bersatu assemblyman replaced a PAS representative as menteri besar.
Three former PAS assemblymen also had their seats declared vacant after the party claimed their membership ended automatically due to alleged withdrawal of support for then-menteri besar Shukri Ramli.
The developments led Muhyiddin to resign as PN chairman, with PAS indicating readiness to assume leadership of the opposition coalition.
Dispute over restructuring agreement
On Wednesday, Muhyiddin stated that Bersatu and PAS had agreed during a January 16 meeting to abolish the PN chairman post as part of coalition restructuring.
PAS leaders, including president Abdul Hadi Awang and deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, have denied that such an agreement was reached.
Nurul Islam said PAS is handling its internal disagreements over the Perlis crisis quietly within the party.
He argued, however, that Bersatu should not have put forward its own candidate for menteri besar without consulting PAS, the party holding the largest number of seats in the Perlis assembly.
“Marzuki is unclear, doesn’t understand, or is pretending not to understand. Ideally, when the Perlis palace requested names, Bersatu should have referred to PAS as the party with the most number of seats. But instead, they submitted their own name,” he said.
Nurul Islam added that Muhyiddin’s inaction as PN chairman during the crisis highlighted leadership weaknesses and explained why many PN supporters have called for him to step aside.
Call for honesty in political stance
He urged Marzuki to be direct if the intention is to keep Muhyiddin in leadership roles within Bersatu and PN.
Nurul Islam stressed that political choices should serve the people rather than personal or factional interests.
“I understand Marzuki will defend Muhyiddin, but blaming PAS for what happened is not right,” he said.
“Be honest. If you want Muhyiddin to continue as PN chairman, remain a potential future prime minister, and continue leading Bersatu, just say so. There is no shame in that,” he added.
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