Sallehen confirms call to resign

Denials have been flying fast and furious but the new Selangor PAS chief who spoke at a political retreat gave a blow-by-blow account of how the Mentri Besar asked PAS to resign from the state executive council. 

Joceline Tan, The Star

SALLEHEN Mukhyi knew it was not going to be easy when he was appointed the new Selangor PAS chief.

PAS is in uncharted territory, a political storm is blowing through Selangor and it is up to the Sabak assemblyman to help his party navigate through the thunder and lightning.

The challenge for Sallehen is how to keep PAS in the state government even though it has ended ties with PKR, their last remaining friend in Pakatan Harapan.

Sallehen was hoping that his courtesy call on Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali on Thursday would help map out a way for PAS to remain on board until the general election. He was accompanied by the three state exco members from PAS – Datuk Ahmad Yunus Hairi, Zaidy Abdul Talib and Datuk Iskandar Samad who was the former state chief.

Sallehen knew the PKR side was upset over the strong statement from the PAS syura council over the break-up with PKR. The syura council had basically accused PKR of a number of things, including its lack of support for RUU355 and the Islamic agenda of PAS.

The accusation from the council of top PAS ulama was very damaging to the credentials of PKR’s Muslim leaders and has drawn denials from as high as Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself.

It was not going to be a good start for Sallehen and he had stayed up half the night preparing an argument to convince Azmin to keep PAS in the government.

He explained during the meeting that although the tahaluf siyasi or political cooperation had ended, the two parties could still continue to operate under the concept of taawun.

But Azmin quite rightly pointed out that it would be difficult to convince his partners in Pakatan and also the public, and that was when he suggested that the best option was for the three PAS state exco members to resign while the party remains as part of the state government.

The resignation proposal was serious enough for the PAS Dewan Harian or presidential council chaired by Datuk Seri Hadi Awang to convene a meeting that very night. The conclusion from the meeting: PAS was not to resign from any post.

The next morning, there was a flurry of damage control from the actors involved, all trying to downplay The Star’s frontpage report and to deny that the Menteri Besar had asked them to resign.

However, during a PAS political retreat in Hulu Langat the same day, Sallehen informed a gathering of PAS branch chairmen and secretaries that the Mentri Besar had indeed asked the party to resign.

In fact, he gave a blow-by-blow account of their hour-long discussion with Azmin.

Sallehen informed his audience in Hulu Langat that he had told Azmin: “If you do not appreciate the support of PAS, our party may have to cooperate with other parties.”

He also told Azmin that “surely PKR does not want to carry the blame for sacking PAS”.

Sallehen said Azmin had assured them that he wanted PAS in his government until the general election but stressed that he had been put in a difficult position.

Sallehen also asked Azmin whe­ther he intended to sack the three exco members if they do not resign. He even asked Azmin whe­ther he would bring in Amanah to replace PAS in the state executive council.

The meeting ended with Azmin telling his guests that he would need to brief and discuss with his president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Sallehen reciprocated by saying that he would also inform his party president of what had transpired.

The conclusion among the PAS leaders at the retreat was that Sallehen had passed his first test as their Selangor chief.

He is obviously not timid like his predecessor Iskandar. Sallehen is much bolder and has a certain macho swagger. He has shown that he is not intimidated by power and that he can think on his feet.

He also has a sense of humour. He said he had met a DAP assemblywoman earlier that morning who complained that all the politicking was giving her a headache.

“I told her the best thing is – take a Panadol,” he said as everyone broke into laughter.

It is clear that despite the messy divorce, PAS has no intention of exiting the Selangor government while Azmin is trying to find a solution that does not involve pushing PAS out the door.

The stability and survival of the state government are on the line and political expediency is the name of the game. But can this strange government of friends and enemies continue as before? Are they not aware that the state government has become some sort of laughing stock?

The rumblings in his own party are growing louder. PKR members were upset over the way PAS hit out at them during the muktamar in Alor Setar. The syura council’s no-holds-barred statement was the last straw.

DAP’s stand has been clear from day one – they want PAS out. In that sense, the fallout is on PKR which has bent over backwards for PAS.

Moreover, it is no secret that former Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has been extra busy behind the scenes, talking to people, plotting and hoping.

Azmin’s reputation is on the line. He needs to come up with a face-saving plan to show he is in charge while keeping PAS from straying to the other side.

Status quo is not an option.