PETALING JAYA: Bersatu and PAS have agreed to do away with the post of Perikatan Nasional chairman, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin, who resigned as chairman as of Jan 1, said this matter would be the main item on the agenda at a meeting today.
In a letter to the presidents of the coalition’s component parties, dated Jan 27, Muhyiddin said PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang agreed to this during a meeting at Muhyiddin’s house on Jan 16.
He said that at the meeting, in place of a chairman, two councils were mooted – a presidential council led by Bersatu and an executive council led by PAS.
PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan were also at the meeting.
In the letter, Muhyiddin thanked Abdul Hadi for “resolving the issue of appointing the chairman of Perikatan” and “his wisdom”.
“The meeting took place in a very harmonious atmosphere and successfully produced outcomes which I believe can further strengthen unity among the member parties of Perikatan Nasional.
“Abdul Hadi initiated the discussion by emphasising that Perikatan must remain a coalition of parties capable of attracting the support of all segments of Malaysia’s plural society.
“In light of this, the top leadership of Bersatu and PAS have agreed that, as a way out of the impasse over the appointment of a new Perikatan chairman, the structure should be reformed by establishing a presidential council led by Bersatu and an executive council led by PAS.
“The primary role of the presidential council is to serve as the highest body that determines Perikatan’s policies, while the executive council administers Perikatan in accordance with the policies set by the presidential council.
“With this restructuring, the position of Perikatan Nasional chairman is abolished, and the issue of appointing a chairman will no longer arise,” said Muhyiddin.
He said this decision has been conveyed to the Gerakan and MIPP presidents, who “supported the agreement”.
On Monday, Takiyuddin had announced that Perikatan would hold a now-cancelled emergency supreme council meeting on Jan 29 to appoint a new Perikatan chairman.
Muhyiddin, who was not invited to the meeting called by Takiyuddin, said he decided to call for a pre-council meeting of the four component parties’ presidents to discuss the decisions agreed upon by PAS and Bersatu.
PAS, whose stand was that the chairman need not be a party president, has however condemned the circulation of Muhyiddin’s letter.
Takiyuddin said he “was unable to confirm agreement with all the details in the letter.
“We will state our position on the matter in writing to the presidents of the component parties,” he said .
PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had reportedly denied Muhyiddin’s claim that PAS and Bersatu had agreed to abolish the Perikatan chairman’s post.
He was also reported to have denied that the matter was discussed at the meeting with Muhyiddin and other PAS leaders on Jan 16.
