Guan Eng: PAS must explain unity talks
Written by Regina William, The Edge
PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang must explain to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leadership council about his statement on the unity government talks with Umno.
DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said the DAP was in the dark and had never been informed about such talks.
"PAS should explain to the PR leadership as the statement is completely untrue," Lim said after the swear-in of the new MPPP president Tan Cheng Chui.
"Unless he has been misquoted, coming from a religious person saying that the issue has been discussed within the PR when it was never raised, he is not only answerable to the other parties in PR but also to God.
"We have never been informed nor has the matter been discussed at the PR leadership council and never once has it been brought up.
"Hence, he must explain his statement that the PR leadership was receptive to these unity talks and that PAS has explained the matter," Lim said.
The unity talk issue was discussed at length during the PAS muktamar with many PAS members openly opposing the idea.
PAS Deputy President Nasharuddin Mat Isa had also reiterated that talks with Umno were on issues that need to be addressed for the benefit of the nation.
He had stressed that it was never done with the intention to join Barisan Nasional (BN) or share power and said the party was open to talks with any party.
Hadi is also expected to explain the unity government issues to its coalition partners at the upcoming presidential meeting.
Earlier in his speech, Lim said the council presidents of both the Seberang Perai and Penang Island would be left to civil servants to helm.
"Let the professions do the job as they are the best qualified to carry out their duties.
"We must put public interest above private benefit," he said clearly hinting at the recent ruckus during the swear-in of MPSP president, former Seberang Perai Utara district officer Mokhtar Mohd Jait, which was boycotted by the PKR councillors who demanded the post be given to the PKR.
Lim thanked the MPPP councillors including those from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) for not lobbying for the president's post.
