PETALING JAYA: PAS is ready to face by-elections to fill the three vacant Perlis state assembly seats, says Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
The party president said the party is also prepared for a full state election should the assembly be dissolved.
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"Three state seats are already vacant. Perlis only has 15 seats, we hold four, and Bersatu has five. If a government is formed, how would it even function?" he said in a recorded interview uploaded to his YouTube channel.
The Marang MP said many people were sympathetic towards PAS in Perlis, and he was confident that the party would do well in any election there.
He said former mentri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli was a just leader who did not oppress anyone.
"The people respect him, and... we are willing to support him because he has always been close to the rakyat. However, he has chosen to step down and let someone else take over," he added.
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Hadi said Muslims are taught that when someone is oppressed, their prayers are accepted by God.
He called on PAS members to pray for Shukri, whom he believes has been wronged.
"Those who commit injustices will face the consequences sooner or later.
"Even if non-Muslims are wronged and pray, God listens to them," he said.
Commenting on relations with Perikatan Nasional partner Bersatu, he said PAS would not generalise or condemn the party as a whole because it comprised many members with differing views.
However, he hoped Bersatu would act in the spirit of loyalty and solidarity within the coalition.
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He added that PAS expects Bersatu to act against five of its assemblymen who signed statutory declarations (SDs) withdrawing their support for Shukri, who resigned on Thursday (Dec 25), citing health reasons.
Hadi added that since PAS already acted against three of its own assemblymen by terminating their party membership, Bersatu should also take the necessary steps in the spirit of "setia kawan" (loyalty to allies).
On the question of appeals against the vacancies, Hadi said it was up to those involved to decide on their next course of action, noting that elected representatives had taken a pledge and were expected to abide by party directives unless these contradicted Islamic principles.
Shukri's resignation followed the submission of eight statutory declarations (SDs) signed by state assemblymen – three from PAS and five from Bersatu – retracting their support for him.
The three PAS assemblymen – Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) – were later sacked from the party.
There are 15 seats in the Perlis state assembly. PAS holds nine, Bersatu five, and Pakatan Harapan one.
