MAJORITY OF PAS DIVISIONS IN PENANG PASS MOTION TO END TIES WITH PKR
They have passed motions to be tabled in muktamar
IN what appears to be the clearest sign yet of the crumbling PKR-Pas ties, a majority of the Islamic party’s Penang divisions have each passed a motion on ending the political pact, which will be submitted during its muktamar next month.
Ten out of 13 Pas divisions in the state have passed the motion.
On March 19, the party’s Permatang Pauh and Bayan Baru divisions approved the motion to sever ties with PKR.
Last weekend, eight other Pas divisions passed similar motions. They are the divisions in Nibong Tebal, Kepala Batas, Tasek Gelugor, Bukit Mertajam, Bukit Bendera, Balik Pulau, Jelutong and Bukit Gelugor.
The Bukit Gelugor Pas divi- sion was crippled after almost 80 per cent of its committee members, including Parit Buntar member of parliament Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof, left to join Parti Amanah Negara (PAN).
Three more divisions which have yet to conduct annual general meetings are Bagan, Batu Kawan and Tanjung. They are expected to pass similar motions.
Bukit Mertajam Pas division chief Mohd Yusni Mat Piah said the division accepted the motion, which was brought by its Youth wing to sever the “tahaluf siyasi” (political cooperation) with PKR.
“The motion was unanimously accepted by the delegates present,” Yusni said.
State Pas commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusof said the motions came about after PKR showed its inclination towards DAP in many issues, especially in the issuance of religious edicts.
Last month, Pas issued an ultimatum to PKR to drop DAP and PAN or lose Pas after issuing a similar ultimatum to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM).
Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had made it clear that his party would not work with DAP and PAN, or those associated with them.
Although Pakatan Rakyat was dissolved following the protracted spat between Pas and DAP over syariah law, PKR and the former remained in a side pact to preserve the Selangor tripartite government.
In Alor Star, PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali admitted it was difficult to convince Pas to take part in straight fights against Barisan Nasional in the next general election.
“It is easier said than done. We cannot take lightly the public perception of us. If we want to convince people that we can take over the government, we should unite,” he said.
Azmin, however, did not rule out the possibility of forming “separate electoral pacts at national and state levels”, while expressing hope that Pas would reconsider joining the opposition alliance.
He said PKR’s political bureau in a meeting earlier this month had decided to hold a discussion with Pas on the matter. Additional reporting by Embun Majid