PAS deputy president has no knowledge of other candidates for the Selangor menteri besar's post apart from the two names decided at the party's Aug 17 meeting.

Mohamad Sabu said the PAS central committee was not informed of the names that were submitted to the Selangor palace on Wednesday, which included its own party members.

"The PAS central committee has no knowledge of any new names because it was not decided at the central working committee (CWC) meeting, that is our executive body that handles the daily administration and strategy of the party," he said in a statement today.

Mohamad, widely known as Mat Sabu, reiterated that the CWC at its meeting unanimously agreed to put up only the names of PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her deputy Azmin Ali.

PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali confirmed yesterday that the party submitted three names - two from PKR and one from PAS. However, he declined to reveal the names of the candidates. 

Reportedly, the list instead contained three PAS executive council members - namely Iskandar Ab Samad, Sallehen Mukhyi and Ahmad Yunus Hairi, which was secretly sent to the palace on Wednesday.

The list was later updated but stil without the names of Wan Azizah and Azmin.

Mat Sabu said that this development had affected PAS negatively. 

“This latest development on the Selangor MB candidate will definitely create all kinds of reactions and negative perceptions towards PAS especially, and towards Pakatan Rakyat in general.” 

Meanwhile, PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad queried the PAS moves, stating that the first list went against the Aug 17 meeting and the updated version still raised concerns.

Why is the PAS secretary-general not confirming the names of the candidates sent? 

Are the names of the PKR candidates sent in the letter this time different from what PAS decided on Aug 17?”

Both PKR and DAP have submitted Wan Azizah as their sole choice for the post despite the palace's insistence for more than two names.

PAS refusal to join PKR and DAP in presenting a united front further complicates Pakatan's dealings with the Selangor sultan.

Yesterday, the palace  reprimanded PKR for not abiding by the sultan's decree by nominating only one person for the position.

Related stories

'Hadi Move' rocks PAS and PKR, threatens split

PAS syura council behind Azizah, Azmin omission

No attempts to topple Hadi, says PAS leader

Don't interfere in our affairs, PAS tells Pakatan

'PAS' deceit over Selangor MB unforgivable'

If only one has majority, other names not needed

Enough, PAS need not play with words