EGM if PAS ulama allow motion to cut ties with DAP, says leader
(TMI) – A special muktamar or extraordinary general meeting (EGM) will be held to allow PAS delegates to debate the motion to cut ties with DAP – if the Islamist party’s council of clerics agrees with the proposal, said newly elected vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.
Amar, who is also Kelantan deputy menteri besar, said the EGM was necessary as the decision to pursue political cooperation (tahaluf siyasi) with Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was first decided through a muktamar or annual general assembly.
“The motion will be evaluated by the Shura Council. If it has basis, it will be tabled in a PAS extraordinary general meeting for a decision.
“Tahaluf siyasi was decided in a muktamar, so to end this cooperation, it will also have to be considered in a muktamar,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
Amar said delegates who questioned why the Dewan Ulama’s motion was passed without debate did not understand the party’s decision-making process.
“They were not clear and didn’t really understand the motion. They think that once it was passed, it will be accepted immediately. When the motion was for the matter to be moved to the Shura Council.
“The Shura Council will decide whether the motion has basis and then allow it to be debated. If not, they will reject it straight away,” said Amar.
Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamad, head of the Dewan Ulama or clerics’ wing, however, said he was disappointed that the motion was passed without being debated in the recent muktamar.
He said cutting ties with DAP was an important matter that should have been debated so that delegates could air their views.
“That’s why in my speech, I said the Dewan Ulama was a bit disappointed because a big issue like this was not debated.
“Delegates at the muktamar have the right to give their views because it is a grave matter that has to be debated, even if no final decision is made,” said Mahfodz, who is also a Shura Council member.
He said it was good, though, that the motion would now be passed to the Shura Council as the clerics there could give better explanations about “tahaluf siyasi” which involved “hukum syarak” or Islamic rulings on how decisions should be made.
Central committee member Sallehin Mukhyi had a different view about letting delegates debate the motion, for fear that ally DAP would be hurt with what could have been said in the open.
“I agree that it did not need to be discussed because if it was debated, there would be more contentious, more bad words against DAP.
“We don’t want the muktamar to be filled with harsh words. No need to discuss it publicly, just leave it to the Shura Council,” he said.
