Perikatan Nasional deputy secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said today that the Registrar of Societies could take action against the coalition if it proceeds to abolish the chairman’s position.
Takiyuddin, speaking at a press conference outside Parliament, stressed that the chairmanship is clearly provided for in the PN constitution.
“If any changes are made, authorities such as RoS can step in and take action,” he warned.
He firmly denied claims that PAS and Bersatu had reached an agreement to remove the post.
Muhyiddin’s claim disputed
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin had earlier stated in a letter that he and PAS agreed to abolish the PN chairman role during a meeting at his residence more than a week ago.
Muhyiddin said the two parties also agreed on a restructuring plan that would place Bersatu in charge of the presidential council and PAS leading the executive committee.
Among the PAS leaders present at that January 16 meeting were president Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, and Takiyuddin, who serves as PAS secretary-general.
Tuan Ibrahim later rejected Muhyiddin’s account of the discussion.
Internal matter should stay internal
Takiyuddin described the current dispute over the chairmanship as “a storm in a teacup” and suggested that Muhyiddin bore responsibility for escalating it.
“An internal issue within PN should not be turned into a national matter,” he added.
PN has been without a chairman since Muhyiddin’s resignation took effect on January 1.
In his letter dated January 27, Muhyiddin noted that despite the supposed agreement to remove the chairman post, he learned that Takiyuddin had called for an extraordinary Supreme Council meeting to discuss, among other items, appointing a new chairman.
Muhyiddin said this agenda conflicted with the January 16 understanding between Bersatu and PAS, which was why the January 29 Supreme Council meeting was cancelled.
Reports on January 27 confirmed the cancellation, with the heads of PN’s four component parties instead set to meet at Muhyiddin’s home.
Takiyuddin also dismissed tonight’s planned pre-council meeting as unconstitutional.
“I checked, and there is no provision for it in the constitution. Perhaps it is just an invitation for coffee with the component party presidents,” he remarked.
