IPOH: Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu was rained with heavy criticisms from state Pakatan Harapan coalition partners over his controversial statement that he is fighting a “lone battle” against DAP.
In a video clip posted on Facebook user Azizi Safar’s page yesterday, the state Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairman could be seen telling a group of people how he had to face DAP while fighting over certain issues, including Malay rights.
“I am fighting with the DAP group alone. I want to defend the Malay land and to fight for our religion. I am doing this slowly, ” he said, adding that he too had Umno “blood” and would not mind helping his people.
“Thankfully, some friends in Umno don’t scold me. They are good with me, ” said Ahmad Faizal, who is one of two Bersatu assemblymen in Perak.
The two-minute 47-second video clip is believed to have been taken during a Tanjung Piai by-election campaign, as Pakatan Harapan’s candidate Karmaine Sardini, could also be seen in the footage.
Ahmad Faizal, who is also Tambun MP, had in February this year denied there were issues between him and the state DAP leaders.
There have also been claims of a plan to oust him as the Mentri Besar by state DAP vice-chairman and state executive council member Abdul Aziz Bari, which the latter denied.
The rift between Ahmad Faizal and DAP is said to have started last year when he insisted on not issuing 999-year permanent titles to new villages, a promise that was made by the party.
Perak PKR chairman Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak slammed Ahmad Faizal, accusing him of hypocrisy and still practising racial politics.
“It’s embarrassing what he had said. If he felt that DAP is an enemy within the state government, he is no longer fit to be a leader under the Pakatan Harapan government, ” said Farhash.
“I hope he can have self-awareness and to publicly apologise to the people before the situation worsens until it affects Karmaine in the by-election next week, ” he added.
In a separate press statement, Perak DAP secretary Wong Kah
Woh also said Ahmad Faizal’s remarks were embarrassing and contradicts the spirit of unity within Pakatan.
“His praise for the Opposition while insulting alliance members could not be accepted, ” he said.
Wong added that Ahmad Faizal, who is also the state Pakatan chairman, should lead by example.
“I want to stress that the spirit of unity in Pakatan should be upheld at all times. I hope he would apologise to the Pakatan presidential council over the incident, ” he said.
When Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was asked to comment on the matter, he said: “This is more of a personal experience. He is the Mentri Besar and DAP is an important ally in Perak. For me, it is normal.
“I believe his position as MB can help manage the situation.
“It’s his personal encounter based on what he was trying to say, ” Muhyiddin told the press after an afternoon tea session with policemen at the Pekan Nanas police station here yesterday.
Separately, Ahmad Faizal had reportedly said that his remarks were taken out of context.
According to online portal Free Malaysia Today, he said the video did not record his remarks in their entirety and that the video gave an inaccurate scenario.
He was also quoted as saying he had gone through a lot in Perak, adding there were DAP leaders who ran him down.
He said that his true friends in DAP would understand what he meant.
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