PAS should not hide like Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is hiding from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the 1MDB scandal, but bravely bear full responsibility for killing off PR, when the PAS Muktamar accepted without debate a motion by their Dewan Ulama to sever ties with DAP. Logically PAS should then direct their government representatives to resign their posts since they are no longer part of PR.
PAS new leadership’s refusal to direct their government representatives to resign and the embarrassing spectacle of PAS 4 Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang and Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai councillors clinging to their posts, has devalued the dignity and honour of PAS in the eyes of the public. As the Chief Minister of Penang in my capacity as DAP Secretary-General, PAS severing ties with DAP is effectively severing ties with me as Penang Chief Minister.
How then can the 4 PAS Councillors serve the Penang state government effectively when their party has severed ties with DAP, not just me but also Penang DAP State Chairman and Penang Local Government EXCO Chow Kon Yeow? Even their former Deputy President Mohamad Sabu and their MP and former Central Committee member Mujahid Yusof Rawa had resigned their government posts in Penang to uphold the PAS Muktamar’s motion, whatever their reservations may be about severing ties with DAP.
In order to distract attention from their failure to justify why the 4 councillors and other PAS leaders are still clinging desperately to their posts, PAS new vice president Idris Ahmad is now relying on extremism and racism that my call for PAS government representatives to resign is causing a negative perception against DAP among Malays. It is regrettable that PAS is behaving like UMNO when I had announced earlier that any vacated posts by PAS will be filled by Malays who supported the Penang state government administration headed by me.
PAS President Abdual Hadi Awang had talked of a unity government with UMNO, declaring that UMNO is no longer “firaun”(Pharoah)” as they have previously attacked UMNO in the PAS ceramahs. Mohamad Sabu added that Umno was actually delighted with the PAS election results this year, with Najib even welcoming the prospect of working with PAS.
I wish to state that the Penang state government has a close working relationship with the PAS ordinary membership in Penang. Unfortunately, the new PAS leadership and their supporters in Penang who still unashamedly hold state government posts, despite accepting the motion to sever ties with DAP that directly or indirectly serves to undermine the Penang PR state government led by me and comprising other DAP state EXCOs. Clearly the new PAS leadership have not only lost their honour but also their principles.
Fortunately there are still honourable PAS leaders who have resigned despite the refusal of the PAS new leadership to follow up on their killing off of PR, such as Mohamad Sabu and Mujahid who had submitted their resignations. Following Mohamad Sabu’s resignation letter as Director of PBA Holdings on 8 June 2015, a public announcement was made by PBA Holdings to Bursa Malaysia in accordance with listing requirements. I have received another resignation from the Penang Pas Information chief Ustaz Rosidi Hussain from his position as a director of Penang Youth Development Corporation. These are PAS leaders with principles. who support the Penang state government not because of post but out of their passion to serve the people.