Batu PAS division leaders today quit their posts in a bid to distance themselves from the party central leadership.

They cite disappointment with party president Abdul Hadi Awang and have refused to resume their party duties until the central leadership moves to ensure stable cooperation with Pakatan Rakyat.

"With this declaration, all posts entrusted to us at the Batu PAS 29th divisional annual general meeting (2013) are void with immediate effect. We will only resume our posts after Hadi resolves all internal issues.

"We hope at the 30th AGM to be held on April 19, no branches or wings would nominate us for any posts at the Batu division level," said Batu PAS chief Ishak Surin ( right ) at a press conference today.

Seventeen of the 25 Batu PAS office bearers signed an agreement to ‘ bermufarakah ’ from the central leadership.

Bermufarakah is a Malay word normally used to describe a married couple that is living apart, particularly as a result of a court order.

'Disappointed and sad'

Ishak explained that ‘ bermufarakah ’ here means the group would not agree nor obey the party president, but have not left the party.

Apart from Ishak, other divisional posts that have been vacated are the deputy chief, vice-chief, secretary, information chief, election director, treasurer, and nine committee members.

“We are disappointed and sad with Hadi who failed to resolve PAS’ internal issues until it becomes a long-running crisis in PAS,” Ishak said, adding that this is the party’s worst crisis since 1982.

He said he wants Hadi to play a peacemaker role within Pakatan Rakyat and not to flip-flop on issues involving the party and the coalition.

He also urged Hadi to come clean on allegations that PAS may form a unity government with BN, and his stance on the issue.