updated version

Two opposing factions in Keadilan today traded barbs over the decision by four Abim-affiliated leaders to snub the offer of party leadership posts.

A supreme council member accused the four - who are linked to the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia, or Abim - of being "bitter" and described their action as "undemocratic".

Abdul Rahman Yusof, who is also member of parliament for Kemaman, said the four should accept the fact that they have lost in the party elections two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, the ex-Abim leaders defended their decision to reject the party's offer of top posts, saying that this was done to "save the good name of the Islamic movement".

"The good name of Abim has been dragged through the mud, thrown into the rubbish. Many people do not realise that Abim has been very supportive of Keadilan's struggle," former Keadilan secretary-general Mohd Anuar Tahir told malaysiakini today.

Anuar, a former Abim leader, issued a press statement yesterday stating that he, Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty, Ruslan Kassim and Mustafa Kamil, would not be taking up appointed posts in the party's supreme council as offered by party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

All are Abim members who held top posts in the party until they were defeated in the recent party elections.

'Improper action'

Abdul Rahman told reporters at the Parliament lobby that the quartet's decision to announce their refusal through the press was "improper".

"They could have announced it to party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail directly," said Abdul Rahman, who is linked to the party's non-Abim faction, a loose grouping of former Umno members and individuals from non-governmental organisations.

The offer was made to the four after the party's annual general meeting and there was no indication that they would reject it, he added.

Abdul Rahman said he was baffled as to why the four were making such a fuss as there are eight Abim-linked members sitting on the supreme council.

He named the eight as Dr Mohd Nor Nawawi, Mohd Mustafa, Hamzah Zain, Rosli Ibrahim, Yahya Saari, Sheikh Azmi Capt Usaili Alias and Abdul Rahman Othman.

When told of Abdul Rahman's remarks today, Anuar retorted that the Kemaman MP was free to express his views.

"But we should be entitled to our views too. We want to play good politics and not be involved with the politics of hypocrisy and we are making way for the new leaders but Abdul Rahman should also practise what he says about democracy," Anuar said.

He added that they will continue to work with the grassroots and carry on their duties.

Ex-Keadilan information chief Ruslan Kassim when contacted that he appreciated the statement made by Abdul Rahman.

"We made the statement simply to clear allegations against ourselves that we were trying to pressure the party president and also to correct certain articles carried by the newspapers," Ruslan said.

The Abim and non-Abim factionalism in the party has been widespread and erupted in the AGM leaving the party divided and its future somewhat suspect.

Legality of party elections questioned

On the Abim faction's allegation regarding ineligible branch delegates at the party's third AGM held on Nov 9 and 10 in Kemaman, Terengganu, Abdul Rahman said the problem had been resolved before the AGM.

"There was even a special complaints committee set up to handle the matter. In any case, if there were problems, they should have been brought up during those meetings, not now," he said.

"If anyone is to be responsible, it should be former secretary-general Anuar Tahir himself. He was in charge of the AGM, he was the organiser. Any complaints should be directed to him," added Abdul Rahman.

Yesterday, Wan Azizah announced the formalised new line-up in which the four had been expected to be either appointed as vice-presidents, information chief or part of the 25-member executive committee.

However, following the rejection by the four, two vice-president posts and the information chief post were left vacant.

Wan Azizah, when met earlier today, declined to comment.