Youth delegates see red over chief's speech
MUKTAMAR Several PAS Youth delegates took a swipe at their chief Suhaizan Kaiat over his policy speech delivered yesterday.
MUKTAMAR Several PAS Youth delegates took a swipe at their chief Suhaizan Kaiat over his policy speech delivered yesterday.
While many were gentle and veiled in their criticism, the most stinging attack came from Terengganu delegate Hishammuddin Abdul Karim.
Hishamuddin ( right ), when debating Suhaizan's policy speech, said he was "disappointed" with the content, in particular on the Youth chief's reminder that PAS had lost Terengganu and Kedah.
"Why do we assume the election process is transparent until we have to blame president (Abdul Hadi Awang) and (the late Kedah menteri besar) Azizan (Abdul Razak). Where did they go wrong?" he told delegates in Kota Tinggi, Johor.
Instead, Hishamuddin said, it was the election director of central PAS who should take the responsibility.
Hadi was Terengganu menteri besar from 1999 to 2004 while Azizan was menteri besar for Kedah from 2008 to 2013.
Hishamuddin also questioned why Suhaizan did not single out Perak, where Pakatan Rakyat collectively failed to recapture the state after only ruling it for a year following its 2008 general election win.
He then took a swipe at Suhaizan's call for "gentlemanly politics"and his efforts to build cooperation with Pakatan, including setting up a meeting for the Pakatan Youth chiefs with Hadi.
"We talk about being gentlemanly, but suddenly the members are not gentlemanly with our own president," he said.
Commitment to president questioned
Hishamuddin also expressed unhappiness with PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad for revealing details of the meeting the Pakatan Youth chiefs had with Hadi, during which the president expressed support for embattled Selangor menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
He also questioned Suhaizan's commitment to his own party president.
"I have been following the debates since the beginning and I am still waiting for an official statement from the PAS Youth chief on his clear support for the PAS president," he said.
The fireworks at this session fuelled speculation that delegates may move to vote down Suhaizan's policy speech, which would be tantamount to a vote of no confidence in their leader.
However, this speculation fizzled out soon afterwards, with Suhaizan's policy speech clearing the floor without opposition.
Other delegates were also critical of Suhaizan, with one delegate from Perlis claiming that PAS Youth was sending confused signals in the Selangor crisis, pointing out that its legal bureau had criticised Hadi while other leaders expressed support for the president.
"I urge PAS Youth to support the party's decision instead of trying to be busy with Pakatan and ultimately sidelining the party's own views," he said in reference to Suhaizan's efforts to strengthen cooperation with Pakatan.
Earlier, Kelantan delegate Norazaliza Mohd Alawi ( left ) also appeared upset with Suhaizan's warning that PAS may lose the northern state in his policy speech.
"I don't know where the PAS Youth chief got his figures from, but I'll just accept it," Norazaliza said.
Suhaizan was not the only target at the mukamar, as several delegates who pledged loyalty to Hadi and the Syura Council also made snide comments about Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa).
PasMa was formed by pro-Pakatan leaders in PAS to promote cooperation with Pakatan but has come under criticism from the party's conservative who see it as an attempt to undermine PAS.
Several delegates also targeted PAS state assemblypersons Hasnul Baharuddin (Morib) dan Saari Sungib (Hulu Kelang) for siding with PKR in the Selangor crisis, repeatedly calling them "traitors".
The wing's muktamar later passed a resolution to strengthen the party's disciplinary board over what is seen as lack of action against the two members.
The Selangor crisis is being prolonged over disagreements between PKR and PAS over who should be the next menteri besar after incumbent Khalid lost majority support.
Suhaizan takes on critics
A jovial Suhaizan in his winding up speech was unmoved by the criticism and instead praised Hishammuddin for his hard-hitting remarks.
Suhaizan said he was not referring to any individual when he singled out the defeats of PAS in Kedah and Terengganu, in reference to accusation that he was trying to point fingers at Azizan and Hadi.
"It is true that the Election Commission was not fair but we also have our own weaknesses that need to be addressed," he said.
He added that his warning about the possible loss of Kelantan was also based on an actual post-mortem by the party's central body.
The youth leader also addressed questions on his loyalty to Hadi, stating: "The fact is we have always supported the party president and the syura council."
Suhaizan added that he would take the criticisms, and that he may reshuffle the wing's exco line-up to better deliver results.
His engagement with Pakatan, he said, was merely a bid to "cool down" the situation over the Selangor crisis and that this should not be taken wrongly.
Striking a reconciliatory tone, Suhaizan even related the story of how, as a child, he first met Hadi.
"Hadi is someone who, when you meet, even if you are unhappy with him, you feel calm and your heart becomes soft," he said.
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