KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (pic) has expressed regret that internal matters are being aired in the public domain.
In a Facebook post Thursday (June 25), he said now that seat negotiations for the Johor state election had successfully concluded through Perikatan's official mechanisms, it was time for all component parties, leaders and election machinery within Perikatan to devote their full attention to election preparations and campaigning.
"I have taken note of the media statement issued by a Bersatu vice-president on Tuesday (June 23) concerning several matters that were discussed during the Perikatan supreme council meeting.
"I wish to stress that Perikatan is a political coalition that operates in accordance with its constitution, organisational discipline and collective decision-making.
"Every member party including Bersatu has ample opportunity to voice its views, raise objections and defend its respective position during meetings," he said.
He said that once a decision is made through the coalition’s official mechanisms, all parties are obliged to respect it.
"Perikatan cannot become a platform where any party chooses which decisions to accept while disputing resolutions that do not align with its own position.
"I regret that internal coalition matters were brought into the public domain after the meeting concluded," he said.
He said now that the Johor state elections are approaching and seat negotiations have concluded through the official Perikatan mechanism, it was time to concentrate on election preparations and campaigning.
"I have signed the letters of appointment for Perikatan's candidates who will contest in the election.
"Now is the time for all component parties, leaders and election machinery within Perikatan to devote their full attention to election preparations and campaigning.
"Our priority is to offer leadership with integrity, policies that champion the interests of the people and renewed hope for the well-being of the people of Johor," he said.
On the use of the Perikatan logo during the Johor state elections, Ahmad Samsuri emphasised that the use of the coalition’s symbol comes with political responsibility.
"Any party entrusted to contest under the Perikatan banner must assume full responsibility for candidate selection, election operations, campaign management and the performance of the seats it contests," he said.
It was reported on Tuesday (June 23) that Bersatu had objected to Parti Cinta Malaysia's (PCM) admission into Perikatan Nasional.
Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu cited procedural irregularities in PCM’s application to join Perikatan as one of the reasons for its objection.
“Bersatu representatives also strongly objected to the insistence by the Perikatan Nasional chairman that PCM be admitted as a member of Perikatan" he had said.
Ahmad Faizal said Bersatu did not favour admitting PCM into Perikatan because the coalition was already facing difficulties among its component parties following PAS’s decision to sever ties with Bersatu.
PCM has been rebranded into Parti Wawasan Negara, which is led by former Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
