MUKTAMAR A central PAS delegate today slammed PAS Youth members who staged a walkout when deputy president Mohamad Sabu delivered his opening speech at the wing's muktamar on Tuesday.

Speaking at the main PAS muktamar today, Kuala Krai delegate Zulkifli Yacob said such an action has never happened in PAS' history.

"Some claimed they left for prayers. How pious of them, but it's just a political answer," Zulkifli told delegates in Batu Pahat, Johor, this afternoon.

Instead of a public relations explanation, Zulkifli said, the party's disciplinary committee should investigate the incident and if found to be true, those responsbile should be punished.

The group,  comprising largely of Terengganu PAS Youth delegates, had donned vests that read "We are with the president and syura council" when they walked out on Mohamad.

Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, has been at odds with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang over the Selangor menteri besar crisis and had also offended some conservatives after he called on clerics to improve themselves beyond religion.

Elaborating on this, Zulkifli said both Hadi and Mat Sabu are party leaders and it was the duty of members to pledge loyalty to them.

"From the president to the deputy and vice-presidents, we have to be loyal to all of them.

"Be it cleric or professional, we need to be loyal. Do not only pledge loyalty to certain leaders but not others," he said.

Critics still support Hadi

Zulkifli, who was supposed to debate the party's annual general assembly report for last year, said members should not negate Mat Sabu's long contribution, even if he had made mistakes.

 

Muktamar permanent chairperson Hussein Ismail repeatedly reminded Zulkifli that the policy speech debate had yet to start and urged him to stick to the report, but to no avail.

Zulkifli also weighed in on the resolution passed by PAS Youth to pledge support to Hadi ( right ) and the syura council.

"Who wants to topple Hadi, stand up now!" he said, but no one stood up.

"If none, then why the need to have a resolution to support the president and syura council?" he asked in reference to the resolution passed by the PAS Youth muktamar yesterday.

He added that support from party members should not just be in words but through actions.

"Just because one or two people have different views with the president, it does not mean they are going against the president," Zulkifli said.

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