Pas Ulama Council info chief slams top committee members

(NST) – The move by the senior leaders was akin to “backstabbing” party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

A senior Pas leader has hit out at the party’s top central committee members over a series of alleged transgressions pertaining to the Selangor leadership crisis.

Pas Ulama Council information chief Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali claimed that several senior leaders in the committee had brazenly supported the actions of two Selangor Pas assemblymen by supporting PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s candidature for the menteri besar’s post.

Hulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib and Morib assemblyman Hasnul Baharuddin had signed a statutory declaration in support of Dr Wan Azizah last month, prompting Pas secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali to launch a probe against the two for breaching party instructions.

Khairuddin said the move by the senior leaders was akin to “backstabbing” party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who had chosen to defer the party’s decision on the preferred replacement for Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. He said many reports and motions had been submitted by various Pas divisions, imploring the party to take action against Saari and Hasnul.

“But, senior leaders are throwing their support behind the two. Are they scheming and backstabbing the president? Worse, some of the senior leaders in the committee have celebrated the assemblymen as heroes in their so-called efforts to rescue the opposition alliance from further turmoil.

“What is even more annoying is that some have openly supported the two,” said Khairuddin in a statement published in party organ Harakah’s online portal yesterday.

He said what was more shocking were rumours that the duo’s move was made following instructions from senior leaders in the committee.

“This allegation is serious and unthinkable.”

He also cited the reasons why Pas had decided to name two candidates for the menteri besar’s post.

“Technically, Khalid can no longer remain as menteri besar. PKR and DAP (initially) only garnered the support of 28 assemblymen, but the figure rose to 30 after the two Pas members decided to back Dr Wan Azizah. Khalid has the support of only 26 assemblymen, including 13 from Pas and 12 from Umno, which… threw their unconditional support. The reality is that he cannot be retained as menteri besar.

“This is why the central committee, in its meeting (chaired by Hadi on Aug 17), had sent two names as candidates to replace Khalid.”