Selangor MB crisis: PAS distances itself from leaked WhatsApp chat

(The Star) – PAS has distanced itself from a leaked WhatsApp chat between party central committee leaders discussing the possibility of leaving Pakatan Rakyat.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali (pic) said Tuesday that the conversation was just a personal view and did not reflect the party’s official stand.

“That’s just his personal analysis and it has nothing to do with PAS,” he told The Star Online of the leaked chat, which showed central committee member Mohd Zudi Marzuki discussing the possibility of the party working together with Umno while retaining Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor Mentri Besar.

The conversation is alleged to have taken place in a PAS central committee leaders’ WhatsApp messaging group.

The Islamist party is currently in limbo as there is a split in opinion among party members over the Selangor MB issue.

It has been claimed that the so-called “conservatives” within the party want Khalid to remain as Mentri Besar while the “progressives” are in support of PKR’s decision to replace Khalid.

When asked about the possibility of PAS splitting from Pakatan Rakyat, Mustafa said the issue could be resolved.

“Just wait for August 10,” he said in reference to cut-off date for PAS to make its decision on the issue.

Khalid is currently under pressure from within his party.

Last Wednesday, the Pakatan leadership had agreed in principle for Khalid to be replaced as Selangor MB by Kajang assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

However, on Friday PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang defended Khalid, saying he wanted the latter to remain in office.

He was reported as saying that a majority of PAS grassroots agreed that Khalid should stay on, judging from his track record in helming the state.

In an immediate reaction, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said that Hadi’s statement was merely a personal opinion and not the party’s official stand.

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Niz Aziz Nik Mat has also supported Hadi’s view, saying that Khalid has not done anything wrong.