Hadi: PAS ready for Selangor excos to be ousted

(MMO) – PAS is prepared to lose the party’s place in the Selangor administration in order to contest the Sungai Besar by-election, president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said,

Commenting on a report that Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali threatened to expel PAS officials from his government if the party does not concede the berth, Abdul Hadi said it was the PKR deputy president’s prerogative.

“I’m not sure if the talks are true or not,” Malay daily Sinar Harian quoted the PAS president as saying.

“The appointments of excos must have the consent of the Sultan and must go through the swearing-in process. So we are prepared for any eventuality, but let’s see what the Sultan has to say.”

Expressing hope that the reported threat was just a rumour, Hadi reminded the Selangor government that the by-election was an internal issue while the exco positions were official state business and should not be commingled.

The Star newspaper reported citing sources this week that Azmin told his two PAS excos to resign if the party insisted on contesting the Sungai Besar by-election.

PAS is claiming the right to contest both the Selangor seat and the concurrent by-election in Kuala Kangsar as both were traditionally allocated to the Islamist party.

But an aide from the Selangor MB’s office later denied Azmin had issued the ultimatum, and described the news report as defamation.