Although mud-slinging between DAP and PAS continues at the top leadership level, cooperation among grassroots members of the two Pakatan Rakyat members remains unchanged, for now.

PKR national Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin said he had just returned from a weekend programme among grassroots leaders of Pakatan and everyone was committed to staying united.

Afif said the programme included grassroots leaders from DAP and PAS, and both parties, like PKR, have agreed to continue to contribute to the state by upholding principles of good governance in Pakatan.

“Our cooperation is not from just a few days ago, but it started in 1999, with the late PAS president Fadzil Noor (when he was then parliamentary opposition leader).

“Even when Barisan Alternative split in 2004 and lost many seats, the opposition returned as a coalition in 2008 and forged mutual understanding among the three parties that later became Pakatan Rakyat,” the Seberang Jaya assemblyperson said.

“At the height of governing the three Pakatan states (Penang, Selangor and Kelantan), the relationship on the ground is very complex and sophisticated. For example, there are people with dual membership,” added Afif, who is a Penang executive councillor.

A split in Pakatan had appeared imminent after the 61st PAS Muktamar in Selangor earlier this month passed a motion to sever ties with DAP. The party leadership elections that were also held saw all its pro-Pakatan “progressive” leaders booted out of the leadership.

Mat Sabu has quit Penang posts

PAS Penang commissioner Mohamed Sabu has resigned as director on the boards of Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang and Penang Halal Hub, followed by state deputy commissioner Mujahid Yusof Rawa from the board of directors of Yayasan Islam Pulau Pinang.

DAP in Penang has since started issuing termination letters to those who have yet to quit, the latest being Penang PAS secretary Mohd Fadzil Kemi, who was terminated as an officer in the Chief Minister’s Information Department.

Afif said he respected the decision made at the 61st PAS Muktamar.

He said the PAS ulama faction’s decision to cut ties with DAP was in retaliation for that party earlier cutting ties with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Although PKR was willing to mediate, the two parties were not willing to compromise, Afif said.

He said PKR was “serious” in seizing Putrajaya in the coming general election, which should be called by 2018.

“We have to behave like a government. People need to see a stable coalition that can take over the present one (the BN), which is no longer viable for Malaysians.

“In 2013, when PAS decided not to endorse PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister, we saw a drop in Malay votes as they felt there was no good alternative that can form a new government,” Afif said.

“People want to see a united front that can lead them. We have seen this so many times, we must learn from what our voters want.

“However, if our leaders feel that being in the opposition is good enough, so be it. However, as a young leader, I believe the youths want to see us focused in taking over Putrajaya,” Afif added.

On the DAP front, Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer ( photo ) said cooperation among the Pakatan grassroots was “going on as usual”.

“At the moment, all I can say is I hope it will remain as usual. Let’s hope things remain as they are,” Rayer said when contacted.

“As an elected representative, I have yet to encounter any problems with the PAS divisions as these are people who are aligned with the progressives,” he added.