KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional will only discuss appointing a new chairman after Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation from the post is confirmed at the coalition’s next Supreme Council meeting, said Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
Tuan Ibrahim, who sits on the PN Supreme Council, said the coalition’s top leadership has yet to convene on the matter as he dismissed speculation over Muhyiddin‘s replacement, Free Malaysia Today reported.
“There’s no (candidate to replace Muhyiddin) yet, because we want to confirm the PN chairman’s resignation (at the Supreme Council meeting).
“Only after that has been done will the four component parties sit down and determine who will replace him,” he reportedly said after attending the World Al-Quds Week commemoration event in Bangi today.
He also said that Pas has not submitted any list of candidates for the post.
Muhyiddin stepped down as PN chairman on Jan 1, followed by several Bersatu leaders relinquishing their coalition posts, including Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal and Datuk Hanifah Abu Baker.
Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had previously said that he may not become the coalition’s chairman following Muhyiddin’s resignation.
Other names being mentioned as possible successors from the Islamist party include Tuan Ibrahim himself and Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who is the party vice-president and also the Terengganu Menteri Besar.
Tuan Ibrahim told reporters that Pas has a pool of capable leaders, including religious scholars and professionals such as Samsuri, who is trained as an aerospace engineer.
The Kubang Kerian member of Parliament also dismissed claims that a Pas-led PN would alienate non-Malay communities, saying critics should instead assess how states governed by the party had treated their non-Malay residents.
“No such polemic has surfaced in these states, whether among the Malays or non-Malays,” he said, referring to states under Pas’ administration – Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.
Tuan Ibrahim also said the failure of PN’s component parties to win over non-Malay voters should not be attributed to Pas alone.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
