A former PAS central committee member said he was hoping for a more “mature” response from president Abdul Hadi Awang on PAS leaders and members seeking new alliances outside the party, instead of saying that they would "drown".

Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa felt that Hadi had “belittled and looked down” on those who wished to seek new ventures outside the party, as if they were a “sinking ship or mosquitos”, when he issued the open letter to PAS members.