KUALA LUMPUR: Pas Central Working Committee member Dr Haim Hilman Abdullah has criticised Bersatu’s leadership over its handling of a recent power shift.
“The approach taken by Bersatu’s top leadership in justifying the power grab can be interpreted as an indication that they themselves are actually already prepared to abandon cooperation with Pas,” he said in a Facebook post.
Haim said the episode should prompt serious reflection, not just within Pas but also among Bersatu’s own leadership.
He added that Pas’ response to the crisis would be closely watched by the public, particularly in how it conducts itself amid political pressure.
“If PAS chooses to remain calm and composed in the face of this episode, it will send a powerful message to the rakyat that Pas is a mature, principled party that does not act out of emotion or personal interest,” he said.
He described the actions of five Bersatu assemblymen and three Pas assemblymen who signed statutory declarations leading to the political crisis as deeply disappointing.
“Instead of strengthening the state administration and supporting the leadership entrusted by the people, they chose a path that created instability and political uncertainty,” he said.
His remarks came after several Pas leaders appeared to take aim at Bersatu following political developments in Perlis that led to the resignation of Pas’ Mohd Shukri Ramli as menteri besar.
The political polemic came to an end yesterday when Perlis Bersatu chief, Abu Bakar Hamzah, who is also Kuala Perlis assemblyman, was officially sworn in as the new menteri besar at Istana Arau.
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 after receiving the consent of the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.
On Tuesday, Mohd Shukri, who is also the Sanglang assemblyman, announced that he had voluntarily resigned as Perlis Mentri Besar due to health reasons.
This was after a majority of Perikatan Nasional (PN) state assemblymen from Pas and Bersatu allegedly met the Raja of Perlis to express a loss of confidence in his leadership.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
