PETALING JAYA: PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has urged Perikatan Nasional component party Bersatu to take stern action against its assemblymen who submitted statutory declarations (SDs) to the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.
He said the action of submitting the SDs to retract their support for Mentri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli had created a disharmonious atmosphere in Perlis.
"I hope Bersatu will also take stern action against its assemblymen involved in (submitting) the SDs.
"Such a move is essential as a sign of respect to other component members of Perikatan as well as ensuring that discipline and integrity of the coalition are maintained," he said on his Facebook page on Thursday (Dec 25) night.
Tuan Ibrahim compared this to the time six Perikatan leaders defied their party and declared support for the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"Bersatu, at that time, had sacked the membership of the Nenggiri assemblyman for supporting PMX (Anwar Ibrahim), which triggered a by-election even when such actions (the support) did not involve SDs.
"Compared to Nenggiri, what happened in Perlis is far more serious. It directly affects the integrity of the Perikatan government.
"As main partners of Perikatan, we are confident that Bersatu will act consistently and firmly," Tuan Ibrahim said.
He said PAS has taken action against the trio as the party is not willing to compromise on discipline.
He said that although the decision may pose a risk to the stability of the Perlis government, PAS is of the view that the party's principles and integrity must be prioritised.
"I urge PAS members and supporters to remain calm, be disciplined and not be influenced by provocation which will only benefit the opponent," he said.
On Wednesday (Dec 24), three PAS assemblymen in Perlis – Chuping assemblyman Saad Seman, Bintong assemblyman Fakhrul Anwar Ismail and Guar Sanji assemblyman Mohd Ridzuan Hashim – were sacked by the party.
PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang announced this, saying that the trio had their PAS memberships terminated with immediate effect.
Hadi said the decision was made at a special meeting of the PAS central working committee in Rusila, Marang, on Wednesday.
Although Hadi did not give a reason for their sacking, it is believed to be connected to the submission of statutory declarations (SDs) by eight assemblymen to the Raja of Perlis, stating that they had lost confidence in Shukri’s leadership.
Five Bersatu assemblymen had also signed SDs.
Perlis has 15 state seats. In the 15th General Election, Perikatan won 14 seats, with PAS securing nine and Bersatu five, while Pakatan Harapan, through PKR, won one seat in Indera Kayangan.
Without the support of the eight assemblymen, Shukri would lose a simple majority and would thus be unable to remain as Mentri Besar.
