PAS: Unity government in Selangor will not be at risk

(The Star) – PAS has assured that the unity government in Selangor will not be jeopardised although PKR endorsed a Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah)’s candidate for the Sungai Besar by-election.

Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Iskandar Samad (pic) said this should not be viewed as a problem to their political cooperation with PKR as such a move has been done in other countries.

Citing an example, the Chempaka assemblyman said in Britain, the Conservative and the Liberal Democrats managed to maintain its unity government for five years despite having clashed in several by-elections.

“There’s no problem really, and we should be politically mature about this,” he told the press at the PAS operation centre, here, Sunday.

Earlier, during the nomination period, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali made a surprise appearance amid talks that he would not show up due to conflict of interest in the state government.

PAS is no longer part of the Opposition pact.

But PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man believed Azmin’s presence was in his capacity as Mentri Besar, who is acting as a host.

“He told me he was there as a mentri besar, and it’s considered ‘standard’ for him to mingle with everyone,” he said.

PAS election director Datuk Mustafa Ali said the politicians managed to set aside their differences.

“I’ve met the Barisan Nasional leaders and Amanah leaders. It is normal for us to do this before the campaigning. Nothing extraordinary, really,” he said.

However, PAS candidate Dr Abdul Rani Osman said he was upset that Amanah chose to “interfere” in a seat traditionally contested by PAS.

“If we both want to deny Barisan victory, then they shouldn’t contest,” he said.

Dr Abdul Rani is facing Amanah’s Azhar Abdul Shukur and Budiman Mohd Zohdi of Barisan in the by-election on June 18.