KUALA LUMPUR: Cracks within the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition widened today as Pas leaders openly questioned their partnership with Bersatu in the wake of the appointment of the new Perlis Menteri Besar.
Pas Information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari posted a strongly worded, sarcastic statement directed at certain parties believed to be referring to Bersatu in his latest Facebook post earlier today.
“Friends turning on friends. It means a friend has chosen to become an adversary,” he said in the post.
The statement was made after he had earlier called for Bersatu to take firm action against state assemblymen who withdrew their support for former Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli.
Ahmad, who is also Pasir Mas member of parliament, said Bersatu’s failure to act in such a manner would raise doubts about the party’s willingness to continue co-operation within the PN coalition.
“Bersatu is urged to immediately take firm action against five of its state assemblymen who stated that they had lost confidence in the Perlis Menteri Besar.
“Failure to do so is feared to signal that Bersatu is no longer interested in maintaining political co-operation with Pas within Perikatan,” he said.
Another senior Pas leader, party treasurer Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad, also seemed to have criticised its coalition partner, which is alleged to have begun showing its true colours.
Iskandar also alleged that betrayal had occurred and that the matter could not be left unaddressed.
“I do not feel sad; instead, I am glad because now we know their true colours.
“Betrayal cannot be allowed to go unpunished,” he said in a Facebook post here today.
Although he did not name any party, the remarks are believed to be directed at Bersatu as well.
The political polemic in Perlis came to an end today when Bersatu’s Abu Bakar Hamzah, who is also Kuala Perlis assemblyman, was officially sworn in as the new Perlis Menteri Besar at Istana Arau.
Meanwhile, Bersatu today called for unity within the coalition following the appointment of the new Menteri Besar.
Its information chief, Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz, was seen sharing a statement urging that no division occur and expressing confidence in the decree determined by Allah.
He also shared several excerpts from Surah Ali Imran and reminded that these verses were often recited by imams during congregational prayers at the time of Barisan Nasional’s downfall in 2018.
“Hold fast to the rope of Allah and do not be divided.
“Among the verses that are commonly recited in prayers are verses from Surah Ali Imran, verses 103 to 105.
“May we take lessons from it,” he said in his Facebook post today.
Tun Faisal also shared an image featuring a quote from Ibn Taymiyyah stating that ‘division is not a blessing’ in the same post.
Abu Bakar, who previously served as Perlis executive councillor for tourism and culture, took his oath of office as the 12th Menteri Besar of Perlis at 4.08pm after receiving the consent of the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.
On Tuesday, Pas’s Mohd Shukri, who is also the Sanglang assemblyman, announced that he had voluntarily resigned as Perlis Mentri Besar due to health reasons.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
