PAS not bothered if fated to exit PR - Dewan Ulama chief

Dewan Ulama PAS (PAS's Ulama Council) today echoed the stand by the party's spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat that PAS was prepared to face the fate of exiting the Pakatan Rakyat PR)

opposition coalition because of its differences on the position of Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim with its partners, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP.

The council's acting head, Datuk Ahmad Yakob said this would be nothing new to PAS as it previously had exited the Barisan Nasional (BN) and an alliance with the now defunct Semangat 46 party to pursue its struggle on its own.

"If we (PAS) have to go it alone, we accept that. This is the history of PAS that was mentioned by Tok Guru (Nik Abdul Aziz). PAS's struggle has never been easy.

"PAS's Syura Council (the party's highest decision making body) made the decision (on the position of Abdul Khalid as the MB). It was based on constitutional provisions in making the decision," he told reporters when met at an Aidilfitri open house organised by Perbadanan Kemajuan Iktisad Negeri

Kelantan here today.

On Friday, Nik Abdul Aziz and PAS deputy spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din in a joint statement had said that PAS Syura Council held the view that Abdul Khalid could not be deposed as the MB of Selangor so long as he had not betrayed the trust of the people.

Abdul Khalid was expelled from PKR yesterday. The PR government in Selangor is led by PKR.

The decision to sack Abdul Khalid from PKR was taken by its Central Leadership Council (MPP) in Petaling Jaya yesterday. It was with immediate effect.

In announcing the decision of the (MPP) at the party's headquarters in Petaling Jaya yesterday, PKR Disciplinary Board chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong said the decision was unanimous based on Abdul Khalid's open defiance to party directives especially to resign and make way for PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to be the new Selangor MB.

Commenting further, Ahmad, who is the Menteri Besar of Kelantan which is led by PAS, however, said he wanted to see the issue resolved amicably and denied the crisis had caused a split in PR.

"Not at all. It helps us mature in politics and I ask everyone to remain calm and find the best way out.

"If the (Selangor) State Assembly is dissolved, that will also be a problem," he said.

Asked whether Abdul Khalid should join PAS now that he was partyless, Ahmad said this was for Abdul Khalid to decide.

"I cannot comment on that because that his right," he added.