PAS says won’t accept Selangor MB post even if selected by Sultan
(Malay Mail Online) – PAS reaffirmed its commitment to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) last night with a central committee member confirming that the party would go as far as rejecting the Selangor mentri besar’s post should the Sultan pick one it its own for the seat.
At a forum last night, Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (pic) explained that this is because PAS intends to uphold its existing agreement with partners PKR and DAP on the share of posts in PR-held states.
“The PAS central committee’s stand is that even if the palace were to offer the mentri besar post to PAS, we will reject it,” he told the forum organised by Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (Pasma) here.
On Sunday, PAS declared that it will not pursue the Selangor mentri besar post as it has been agreed that it is reserved for PR partners PKR.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali told a news conference on Sunday that the party’s central committee decided that it will not vie for the coveted position, though he added that they will leave it to the Sultan to decide.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, however, reportedly confirmed that the party would not accept a royal appointment of a PAS candidate as Selangor mentri besar.
It was reported earlier that party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had personally submitted a list of three names to the Selangor Sultan ― two from PKR and one from PAS ― effectively circumventing an earlier list sent to the palace by the party that listed PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her deputy Azmin Ali as their choices.
Mujahid last night also debunked claims that the Selangor mentri besar imbroglio had to do with allegations that some in the party were working towards forming a coalition government in the state with arch-rivals Umno.
He said there was no basis for such allegations, as the Islamist party has no interest in teaming up with the dominant Barisan Nasional (BN) component party.
“You can make whatever assumption that you like, but let me make it clear… PAS has no intention of being with Umno,” he said, to applause from hundreds of forum attendees.
Disagreement over nominees for the Selangor mentri besar post has pitted PKR and DAP on one side against PAS on the other, stemming from the Islamist party’s refusal to join the two in naming only Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the position.
The situation grew more intractable after Hadi unilaterally named three nominees for the post in accordance with the Sultan of Selangor’s request although PKR and DAP were adamant in naming only Dr Wan Azizah.
