KUALA LUMPUR: PAS should be the Opposition Leader as it holds the most parliamentary seats in the opposition bloc, says its secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
The Opposition chief whip said the matter needs careful consideration following the sacking of Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, the current Opposition Leader, on Feb 12.
"It was agreed that PAS, as the largest party in Parliament, should hold the Opposition Leader's post," he told a press conference here after the Perikatan Nasional extraordinary supreme council meeting on Sunday (Feb 22).
"However, no final decision has been made yet and Perikatan needs some time to examine the matter."
He said there was no urgent need to remove Hamzah from the position despite the Larut MP's sacking from his party.
"That (removal) is not necessarily mandatory. For example, there were MPs who had action taken against them by their parties but remained in their seats.
"I will obtain the mandate or instruction from our new Perikatan chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar," he added.
Asked if his party was offended by leaked WhatsApp messages from Bersatu leaders allegedly maligning PAS leaders, he said: "If there are issues within Bersatu, it is appropriate for them to handle it. It has nothing to do with us, and we do not take (the purported maligning) seriously."
On Feb 13, Hamzah and 16 others were sacked by the Bersatu disciplinary board over allegations of party sabotage and attempts to oust the president, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
At today's supreme council meeting, Muhyiddin's resignation as Perikatan chairman was accepted, and Terengganu Mentri Besar Ahmad Samsuri was unanimously agreed upon as the coalition's new leader.
It was also decided that Muhyiddin would be deputy chairman and activate a presidential council within Perikatan.
According to Takiyuddin, the presidential council is provided for under the Perikatan constitution.
