VIDEO

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's public criticism of PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's capability has opened the floodgates, with the party's deputy spiritual leader Haron Din now joining the fray.

 

Haron, who is the number two in the party's syura council, said the powerful body would have long endorsed Wan Azizah as Selangor menteri besar if she was qualified.

 

"If she was qualified enough, the syura would have supported her from the beginning, there would not have been any problems," he told journalists in Bangi yesterday, according to KiniTV.

 

He dismiss that the rejection of Wan Azizah ( left ) was due to gender, adding that the syura wanted someone who was more capable and better.

 

"In Islam, gender is not an obstacle but the capability in holding a position of trust... trust is for someone who is more capable physically, in terms of experience, and background," he said.

 

Based on these criteria, Haron said there were people who were better than Wan Azizah.

 

"Looking at others who are better than what we are seeing in Wan Azizah, therefore our president made the choice and submitted it to the (Selangor) sultan," he said.

 

He reiterated that this was Hadi’s prerogative and he did not have to abide by the PAS central committee's decision.

 

The PAS central committee on Aug 17 had endorsed Wan Azizah and her party deputy Azmin Ali as candidates for menteri besar but both names were reportedly omitted in the list submitted by Hadi to the state palace for consideration.

 

Haron said the final decision lies with the Selangor sultan.

 

"If the sultan still sees that Wan Azizah is suitable for menteri besar, then he will appoint Wan Azizah.

 

"But if he does not see so, then he will appoint someone else," said Haron.