Selangor MB crisis: PAS could face split over Pakatan role
Akil Yunus, The Star
Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa) could become ‘PAS baru’ if the party’s current crop of leaders decide to split from PKR and DAP.
The body was set up by PAS members who are said to be aligned to PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, otherwise known as the Anwaristas faction.
The group is reportedly prepared to back PKR and DAP in order to keep Pakatan Rakyat intact, following PAS’ disagreement with its allies as to who should be named the new Selangor mentri besar.
PKR and DAP had agreed to submit only the name of PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah to the palace, but PAS is insistent on nominating three names of its own.
They are also afraid that PAS could form a unity government with Barisan Nasional, a wish that has been conveyed in the past by some of the party’s spiritual figures.
A list of PasMa’s office bearers for the 2014-2016 term circulated via social media on Friday, with the names of prominent PAS leaders listed as holding the movement’s top posts.
Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who was named as one of PasMa’s vice presidents, however denied being a part of the group.
“I am not one of the office bearers. It is a false list, being done by a group within PAS which is trying to discredit us,” Khalid claimed, adding that he was not aware of PasMa’s agenda.
The group was registered under the Registrar of Societies in Kedah on Aug 11, with former Kedah PAS deputy commissioner Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi as its president.
Meanwhile, PAS central committee member Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi disagreed with PasMa’s formation, saying it was not the way to resolve internal issues in the party.
“I do not see the wisdom in resolving internal party problems by forming a separate body or ‘PAS baru’.
“It is a desperate move and will increase confusion among party members. This will surely lead to a significant split in the party,” he said in a Facebook posting.
To date, PasMa is said to have more than 100 members who had reportedly met on Aug 31 in Kelantan to discuss strategies to obtain more support nationwide.
