PAS will be in a difficult situation if an election is called in Selangor to resolve the controversy over the menteri besar’s position, as the party is seen to be siding with embattled MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Umno in this issue, its Shah Alam MP admitted today.

 

Khalid Samad mused that due to this perception, PAS will have difficulty performing in a fresh state election, as those who back Khalid Ibrahim now may be seen as being in cahoots with Umno.

"My reading is that it will be difficult for PAS as we may be perceived to be backing Khalid (Ibrahim) and Umno," he said.

This comes after DAP publicity chief Tony Pua estimated that PAS can only control three to eight seats, down from the 15 it won in the 13th general election.

The constituencies where PAS support is likely to wane include Taman Templer, Hulu Kelang, Lembah Jaya, Seri Serdang and Paya Jaras.

In a related matter, Khalid Samad slammed PAS central committee member Zuhdi Marzuki, whose WhatsApp message on PAS-Umno cooperation sparked controversy.

The leak caused outcry among non-Malays as Zuhdi's remarks were seen to be belittling minority rights.

Zuhdi too busy defending himself

Khalid Samad said Zuhdi was "too busy" defending himself by absolving responsibility.

 

"The image of PAS has been tarnished and non-Muslims will lose faith in PAS," he said at a press conference in Shah Alam this afternoon.

 

Zuhdi had said that his comments in the WhatsApp message was an aggregation of the opinion of others in the same group, all central committee members.

 

But Khalid Samad said that none of the other 47 central committee members had brought the issue up before Zuhdi "spoke for himself".

 

"I don't know why he's giving the impression that this suggestions were coming from central committee members," he added.

Khalid Samad also said that the leaked screenshot was not targeting Zuhdi, as he was not a well-known PAS member, but was instead targeting PAS itself.

He also said that the group was not the party’s official discussion forum since the top leaders - the president, deputy president and vice-presidents were not part of it.

"Until now the WhatsApp group has never been used to make decisions for the party’s top leadership," Khalid Samad argued.

No word from palace

 

Meanwhile, Khalid Samad also said that he is yet to receive an official reply from the Selangor palace regarding his official request to meet the Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

 

Khalid Samad had requested to meet the sultan (right) to explain his statements urging the Selangor government to remove the executive powers of the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) as it is seen to be an institution close to the sultan.

 

However, the ruler, did not take the suggestion well and had said that he was upset with Khalid Samad over the statement.

 

"I'm waiting with hope that my request to meet him will be accepted and he would accept meeting me," said Khalid Samad who is also being investigated for sedition by the police, following the remarks.

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