PAS faithful still slam talk of unity talks
By Adib Zalkapli, The Malaysian Insider
Despite voting in a conservative leadership, PAS delegates today continued to criticise the unity government proposal on the last day of its 55th muktamar in a sign that party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has failed to convince them of his idea.
Delegates took to the floor dismissing attempts to work with Umno, saying they can survive without their political rivals and instead pushed for greater cooperation in the Pakatan Rakyat electoral pact.
One even warned PAS not to accept sponsorship from Umno-linked corporations, alluding to sponsorship from water utilities giant Puncak Niaga.
“PAS cannot be Umno’s servant, the plan to talk to Umno and to form unity government has to be studied carefully,” Rantau Panjang MP Siti Zailah Yusof told the delegates when debating a motion to push the formation of a Royal Commission of Enquiry to investigate the Perak power grab last February.
PAS Youth representative Zulkifli Ahmad said the wing will not compromise on the issue of working together with Umno.
“None of us wants to work with Umno, we will not compromise on this issue,” he said.
Shah Alam PAS chief Khalid Samad told delegates not to forget how Umno toppled the PAS-led Perak government in February.
“They rob us when we were the legitimate government. Do not stop from attacking them. In attacking them, we strengthen party unity and Pakatan Rakyat,” the Shah Alam MP.
“But if we keep saying beautiful words, like unity and union, then a split is inevitable,” he added.
He also slammed the muktamar secretariat for accepting sponsorship from Puncak Niaga.
“Please know who your friends and your enemies are, they are willing to pay for us today, to pay for our hotel rooms if necessary, but they are evil and they want to divide us,” added Khalid who lost the central working committee election yesterday.
He also told party members to get their priorities right and not to behave like Umno leaders.
“I want to touch on the motion from Youth. It sounds as if it came from Umno,” said Khalid.
Earlier the Youth representative, Sabki Yusof, in his speech criticised the move by the government to partly lift the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity rule and to abolish the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development.
“Of course we want to defend the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity, but the issue is too small compared to Umno’s cruelty,” said Khalid.
