Perak BN set for by-elections if GHB reps vacate seats

comments     Bernama     Published     Updated

Perak Barisan Nasional (BN) is prepared to face any eventuality following PAS' internal crisis, including facing by-elections, if the Islamist party's state assemblypersons or parliamentarians quit their posts to join Gerakan Harapan Baharu (GHB).

Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir said Umno and BN should view this latest development carefully before taking any action such as drawing up the best strategic approach on the matter.

"We need to wait for a suitable time to take the necessary action. However, history has shown that any offshoot from a political party would not last."

Zambry said this to reporters after attending an Aidilfitri gathering of Perak government pensioners, organised by the Malaysian Government Pensioners Umno Club, at the menteri besar's official residence in Ipoh today.

On July 13, several senior PAS leaders from the progressive faction who lost in the recent party elections, announced that they would set up GHB to reunite the allies in the opposition.

   

The move is led by former PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, who lost his post in the party elections, and the interim committee members include former Selangor menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib, former PAS secretary-general Kamaruddin Jaafar, and its former vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.

Selangor PAS secretary Mohd Khairuddin Othman had reportedly said that any assemblyperson or MP from PAS who wished to quit the party to join GHB should first vacate their seats won in the last general election.

Zambry said Perak BN would wait for the decision of the Election Commission on conducting by-elections if the PAS assemblypersons and MPs involved abided by the bai'ah (pledge), which compelled them to vacate their seats if they quit the party.

He said there would be breakaways from a political party if some members were dissatisfied with its running.

"This had happened before in Umno, PAS, MIC, MCA, and so on but these groups, regarded as splinters, would eventually face a very challenging situation to their survival," he added.

- Bernama



Malaysiakini
news and views that matter


Sign In