Amanah says would take Husam from PAS, but no place in leadership

(Malay Mail Online) – Parti Amanah Negara said today that it is ready to accept Datuk Husam Musa if he falls out of favour with the leadership in PAS, but will not vacate positions or create any new roles for him.

Mohd Anuar Mohd Tahir, secretary-general of Parti Amanah Negara, said Husam would also be free to criticise the leaders of the PAS splinter party.

“All that goes into the party does not emphasise on positions; what is important is the idealism that we fight for.

“He may be an ordinary member, but in our eyes he is truly fighting for what we believe in; he can reprimand, he can criticise anyone in the party,” he told reporters here at the two-months-old party’s headquarters.

Mohd Anuar explained that Amanah has to fulfil the requirements of party’s constitution as required by the Registrar of Societies and cannot vacate positions while awaiting a leader to join the party.

He also said that new positions cannot be simply created, but that there will be other leadership opportunities within the party.

“No, we cannot create positions so easily. But maybe we will place big tasks for any future leaders,” he said, adding that there will be opportunities to contest for the party’s state leadership positions when the current pro-tem batch finishes their term.

Mohd Anuar said Husam has a good track record as a federal lawmaker, a former PAS vice-president, a senior Kelantan exco, and as the head of several party bureaus.

He added that Husma would be a “big asset” to any party that he chooses to join if PAS sacks him.

Yesterday, PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said Husam has been asked to explain his claims regarding the party on November 24.

Following PAS election committee chairman Datuk Mustafa Ali’s challenge to debate Husam on the latter’s allegations, Takiyuddin said the party has placed a gag order on all its members to prevent them from debating internal issues outside the party.

Husam previously claimed in a speech in Kota Baru, Kelantan that PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s plan to work with Umno to form a unity government in Selangor last year had failed due to lack of support from PKR assemblymen.

But Hadi last Sunday denied Husam’s claim, clarifying that the unity government was attempted in 2008 at the federal level and not last year as alleged.

Hadi said that a unity government did not mean PAS would join Umno, but would mean a formation of government with all political parties working together. This plan ultimately failed as many did not agree to it, he said.