A former PKR leader has accused opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of being responsible for the internal problems in PAS with regard to the crisis in Selangor.

Since his days in Umno Youth, Ruslan Kassim said, Anwar's strategy is to place his people at various levels of the movement in order to garner support.

"The same is now happening in PAS. Anwar has placed his people, who are former leaders of the Islamic youth NGO Abim, in PAS and they hold key positions in the party.

"Without the realisation of PAS members, supporters and even the ulama leadership, Anwar has managed to control PAS from the outside.

"His people are willing to do anything for Anwar, and obey his orders rather than those issued by their president (Abdul Hadi Awang)," Ruslan (right) told Umno Online .

For example, the former PKR information chief added, Hadi’s support for Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim was rebutted by those in PAS, who deemed it as the president’s personal opinion.

He pointed out that when 25 of the 35-member PAS central committee backed Anwar’s decision to install his wife, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as the next menteri besar, it gave the impression that Hadi and the syura council are no longer in control.

Ruslan, who is now a Perkasa leader, also claimed that efforts were under way to tarnish the image of the PAS president.

"I believe this is another move to ensure that the voice of the ulama is no longer respected and to soil the credibility of the syura council, which until now was considered the most authoritative voice in PAS," he said.

Ruslan also believes that Anwar aims to convert PAS into a more liberal party and use its Islamic image as a veil to garner support from Muslims.

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