Pas Youth division wants to cut PKR ties

SHAH ALAM: Kuala Selangor Pas Youth yesterday approved a motion for the party to cut ties with PKR in the upcoming 14th General Election.

Its chief, Ahmad Hakimi Othman, said the motion, which was proposed during its annual general meeting yesterday, was approved based on three factors.

“Muslim PKR leaders have been negative about Pas’s efforts to empower the syariah courts and have turned a deaf ear on the information and explanation that have been given.

“Their involvement in the Sungai Besar by-election is also an obvious betrayal of political ties with Pas as stipulated by the Syura Ulama Council.

“Moreover, the state government’s inability to resolve issues on Air Selangor (Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd) and Splash (Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd) could lead people to lose confidence in Pas.

“Based on these three issues, the tahaluf siyasi forged with PKR during the last general election must end.”

Hakimi said should Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali find the motion unacceptable, or if he resorted to sacking the three Pas state executive councillors, the division was ready to accept the decision.

The three Pas executive councillors in the PKR-led state government are Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad, Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi and Zaidy Abdul Talib.

Subang Pas Youth chief Hanafi Zulkapli made a similar call after Azmin tweeted about a “tok lebai”, which Hanafi said was referring to the Islamic party’s Youth chief, Nik Abduh Nik Aziz.

Hanafi said he hoped Pas’s national leadership would agree with the motion.

Iskandar and Selangor Pas secretary Khairuddin Othman said the motion to cut ties with PKR needed to be presented and debated at the party’s muktamar, which is set to take place in Kedah next month.

Iskandar said the final decision could only be made during the muktamar, adding that the motion could benefit Pas splinter party Parti Amanah Negara (PAN).

“If there is any motion to cut ties with PKR in Selangor, it is effectively a motion to pull Pas out of the Selangor government.

“How can Pas function in the state government if it has no political ties with other parties?

“Pas has cut ties with DAP, but to do the same with PKR means ending the political relationship with the menteri besar.

“Cutting ties with DAP was different because the menteri besar is from PKR. PAN is set to gain if Pas is out of the state government.

“Our executive councillors, village heads and even nazir of mosques would be replaced with those from PAN.

“Pas would definitely lose its influence at the grassroots if this happens. That is the reality,” he told the New Straits Times.

Khairuddin said the motions did not represent Pas’s official stand.

“I think it is normal for youth to act aggressively (in this matter). It is up to the central leadership to evaluate the motions. Selangor Pas is not bound to their (the Youth divisions’) views.”