PAS former information chief Mahfuz Omar’s remark that party members immediately withdraw from the Selangor and Penang state governments to avoid being seen as hypocrites, is easier said than done.

 

Mahfuz, who is Pokok Sena MP, had said PAS members must quit their posts as the party’s syura council had approved the motion put forth at its muktamar last month to cut ties with DAP.

 

But Penang PAS deputy commissioner Mohd Fadzil Kemi denied that those who still remained in the Selangor and Penang governments were “hypocrites”.

 

Mohd Fadzil said Mahfuz’s remarks were “hasty” and could undermine the Selangor government and its services to the people.

 

“The people’s welfare should be the priority,” he told Malaysiakini .

 

“Even though PAS and DAP have parted ways, it does not mean that only PAS members should withdraw,” Mohd Fadzil said.

 

“If anyone should withdraw, it should be both DAP and PAS. As for Selangor, all depends on Menteri Besar Azmin Ali and the Selangor ruler, eventually,” he added.

 

Mohd Fadzil said any action following the decision by the Majlis Syurah Ulama - which decided that PAS should officially cut ties with DAP - should be directed by the party’s central leadership, headed by president Abdul Hadi Awang ( photo ).

 

“Leave it to the wisdom of the party’s central leadership to decide on any action based on the current political scenario,” he said.

 

Following the ulama council’s proposal for PAS to sever ties with DAP, the latter’s secretary-general Lim Guan Eng declared that Pakatan in its present form has “died”.

 

Lim however maintained that the Penang government with 30 assemblypersons, including PAS sole assemblyman from Permatang Pasir, Salleh Man, is still part of the administration.

 

However, following PAS 61st muktamar delegates’ move to accept the ulama council proposal without debate, five PAS leaders, including former deputy chief Mohamed Sabu and Penang deputy commissioner Mujahid Yusof Rawa, have quit their posts.

 

Meanwhile, Mohd Fadzil was recently sacked by the Penang government from his information officer post in the Chief Minister’s office.

 

Formerly the state PAS secretary, Mohd Fadzil has decided to initiate legal action against Chief Minister Lim ( photo ) for unfair dismissal for terminating him abruptly in July.

 

Asked if other comrades in the state government had received similar termination letters, Mohd Fadzil said they have been instructed to remain in the state government.

 

No termination letters

PAS members hold close to 1,000 posts in various sectors such as committee members in the state’s village development and security committee (JKKK) and in the committees of 215 mosques in Penang.

 

When contacted, state executive councillor in charge of Islamic affairs, Abdul Malik Kassim said the PAS members who are in the mosque committees will not be issued termination letters.

 

“They will only receive such letters if there is outright insubordination,” he said.

 

“The mosque committee members are elected by the community, and the election process in non-partisan,” said the PKR Batu Maung assemblyperson.

 

Malik said the mosque committee term will end in April 2016, and the election process for the new committee will start at the end of the year.

 

It is learnt that the state government must thread carefully lest it would incur the wrath of the Agong if it interferes with any posts - like those in Penang Islamic Council and Zakat Department - which needs His Majesty’s endorsement.