ALOR STAR: Penang Pas has accused Gerakan president and Perikatan Nasional (PN) state chairman Datuk Dominic Lau of neglecting Pas and Bersatu assemblymen in the state.
Penang Pas Youth deputy chief Muhammad Hafis Alias said that although PN currently holds 11 state seats in Penang – seven under Pas and four under Bersatu – the coalition’s elected representatives have not been given due attention.
“I want to raise this issue before our leaders and delegates.
“The reality is, PN in Penang is chaired by Gerakan.
“However, we as assemblymen from Pas and Bersatu are completely ignored.
“As chairman, he should look after all component parties,” he said during a debate session at the 71st Pas Muktamar Assembly at the Pas Complex in Kota Sarang Semut today.
Hafis said there were 15 Malay-majority seats in Penang, and it was not appropriate for them to be contested by non-Malay parties.
He said Pas should contest in those constituencies, as the party had strong grassroots machinery and long-standing experience in Malay areas.
“In the recent state election, Pas nearly captured the Bayan Lepas seat with a margin of only about 300 votes, proving the strength of our grassroots in Malay-majority areas.
“That is why we urge the leadership to review the seat distribution and allow Pas to contest all Malay-Muslim majority constituencies,” he said.
He said political allies should instead focus on non-Malay areas, citing Pas’ non-Muslim Supporters Wing (DHPP) candidates who had stepped forward in Chinese or Indian-majority seats.
“If DHPP can ‘gentlemanly’ contest in areas where they are not the majority, why can’t Gerakan do the same?
“Why must they fight for Malay-Muslim majority seats?” he added.
Earlier, Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang downplayed calls from Penang Pas for PN to appoint a new state coalition chairman, stressing that the matter would be resolved internally.
He said the dissatisfaction initially raised by Penang Pas election committee head Mohd Shafirul Rozani over the state PN leadership was an internal issue that would be discussed within the coalition.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
