PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation as Perikatan Nasional chairman has paved the way for PAS to helm the coalition, but the question now is whether PAS chief Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang will be the next chairman.
However, while some have suggested that Abdul Hadi should be the next chairman in his capacity as PAS president, others have proposed names such as Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (pic).
When contacted, Bersatu information chief Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said the party will accept the Perikatan supreme council’s decision on the next chairman.
However, Tun Faisal said Muhyiddin had offered the chairmanship to PAS after the 15th General Election (GE15), which the latter declined.
“It was only then that he proposed Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin for the position of Opposition chief, and Abdul Hadi and others agreed.”
Tun Faisal said when Muhyiddin expressed his intention to resign as Perikatan chief in a WhatsApp group, several Bersatu supreme council members opposed the decision.
Although the former prime minister had made it clear that his decision was final, some quarters wanted him to reconsider his move.
Tun Faisal said there had even been suggestions that Muhyiddin remain as Perikatan chairman and continue on without PAS by forming alliances with other Opposition parties under Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR) – as PAS had expressed its intention to form Muafakat Nasional.
Citing the Perikatan Constitution, Tun Faisal said although Muhyiddin has resigned, he remains the chairman until the upcoming Perikatan supreme council meeting.
The coalition’s constitution states that the chairman’s resignation takes effect only upon approval by the supreme council.
On whether Abdul Hadi should take over the reins, Tun Faisal said it is reasonable for a party president to be the chairman of Perikatan, as the executive powers lie with the president.
“In terms of hierarchy, too, it will not be reasonable for those who are not the president to be a chairman and chair meetings and give out instructions to the deputy who may be party presidents themselves.
“On that note, Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang will be the most suitable PAS leader to lead Perikatan. The same goes with the presidents of other Perikatan component parties.”
However, he said there had been no discussions to date on the next Perikatan chairman, adding that the matter may be raised at the upcoming Bersatu and Perikatan supreme council meetings.
It was reported that Kelantan Bersatu chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Md Noor did not rule out the possibility of Abdul Hadi becoming the new Perikatan chairman, as PAS and Bersatu are the coalition’s two largest component parties.
Negri Sembilan Bersatu chief Mohamad Hanifah Abu Baker also voiced his backing for Abdul Hadi as the Perikatan boss.
He said the coalition requires a chairman with moral authority, political experience and the ability to unite the component parties in an effective manner.
PAS ulama council chief and Kedah PAS commissioner Datuk Ahmad Yahaya, on the other hand, is supportive of the idea of Muhammad Sanusi becoming the new chairman.
“I see that some parties are proposing that YAB Sanusi be the new Perikatan chairman. It is an interesting proposal, which I agree with,” he wrote in a Facebook post .
Selangor PAS Youth chief Mohamed Sukri Omar voiced his support for Muhammad Sanusi, describing him as someone who would be a breath of fresh air to the leadership in the face of political reality and challenges ahead.
He said Muhammad Sanusi has proven his ability as a leader especially through his administration in Kedah.
Following the resignation of the Bersatu president as Perikatan chairman, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (secretary-general and Selangor chairman), Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Perak), Mohamad Hanifah Abu Bakar (Negri Sembilan), Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal (Johor) and Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian (Sarawak) also followed suit by stepping down from their positions.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan recently said the party is willing to take the helm of the coalition following Muhyiddin’s resignation.
