MPs from PAS rallying behind their president

PETALING JAYA: PAS Members of Parliament are rallying behind their president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and dismissing DAP’s decision to “cut” off ties with him.

They said it was illogical for DAP to sever ties with Hadi while continuing to work with the party.

Kelantan PAS deputy com­mis­sioner (I) Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah said DAP’s decision did not make sense.

“It is an illogical decision. How can you sever ties with the president while at the same time maintain ties with the party?” said Mohd Amar, who is also Deputy Kelantan Mentri Besar.

He said that being its leader, Hadi was an inseparable part of PAS.

“Can PAS, for example, say we do not support Lim Kit Siang but we want to be friends with DAP?” he said.

Pasir Mas MP Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz said DAP should not single out the president as he represented the Islamist party in Pakatan Rakyat.

“From what I understand, they want to pressure PAS from within to reject Hadi. I want DAP to explain this further,” Nik Abduh told reporters at Parliament lobby here yesterday.

Its hudud plan, he maintained, was not about individuals but part of the party’s policy.

“Telling Hadi to leave Pakatan is akin to asking the party to leave the pact,” said Nik Abduh.

He added that PAS was staying put in Pakatan.

Kota Raja MP Dr Siti Mariah Mah­­mud said it was strange for DAP to sever ties with the head of the party but not the rest of it.

Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa said that despite DAP’s decision, the parties could still work within Pakatan.

“If there’re one or two leaders in PAS that DAP does not like, this does not mean that the whole organisation will be in jeopardy,” he said.

PAS central committee member and Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said DAP’s allegations against Hadi needed to be clarified by the president himself.

“I do not believe he (Hadi) would go against what was agreed and promised in the (Pakatan leadership council meetings). It is probably some form of misunderstanding and we hope the issues will be clarified soon,” said Khalid, adding that he felt “relieved” that DAP still wanted to remain in Pakatan.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua said he welcomed DAP’s decision to remain in Pakatan, adding that the priority now would be to further strengthen the group.