Wan Saiful tells PN leaders to be mindful of their words

A Bersatu supreme council member has appealed for top Perikatan Nasional leaders from his party as well as PAS and Gerakan to be mindful and say the “right things” at the “right place”.

Speaking to reporters at his office in Kuala Lumpur, Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan noted there are views of PN leaders expressed in public which could have remained behind closed doors after the coalition’s supreme council meeting.

“PN meetings are held regularly. To my knowledge the meetings are held regularly and often,” said Wan Saiful.

“Most importantly for me, internal issues are best discussed internally. There is no need for us to make an announcement.

“Matters which must be discussed in a (PN) meeting, put it up for discussion. Matters to be announced, announce it. Matters that can be cordially discussed at the coffee shop, are discussed at the coffee shop.

“My appeal to top PN leaders, say the right thing at the right place,” he said.

Heightened tension

He said this when asked for comments on Gerakan president Dominic Lau’s recent remarks that PN since its formation prior to the 15th general election “has never sat down to discuss differences” between the three component parties.

Lau’s proposal for PN to convene the meeting soon follows heightened tension between Gerakan and PAS over issues surrounding the role of alcoholic beverage companies in facilitating fundraising events for Chinese vernacular schools.

On July 29, PN election director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor echoed PAS vice-president Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah’s view that Gerakan is free to leave if the party is no longer comfortable being a part of the coalition.

The two leaders were responding to Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong’s initial statement that the party would not hesitate to leave PN if it meant defending the Chinese education system.

Differing views

Asked about Bersatu’s take on PAS’ response towards Gerakan, which some quarters have branded as arrogant, Wan Saiful said “This is the reality in a fairly young coalition.”

“Parties that form PN have differences in opinions. These differences must be realigned to become the coalition’s stance as a whole.

“To prevent accusations such as ‘PAS is arrogant’ and so forth, I feel this need to be discussed by the top leaders and require some discipline,” he said.

He reiterated there are matters best kept behind closed doors to prevent any “misunderstanding” between parties.

“I know friends from PAS, Gerakan, Bersatu and I feel in reality the perceived ‘arrogance’ by PAS does not exist.

“Those are just personal views which led to misunderstandings when voiced in public,” he added.

Bersatu and PAS had touted the parties’ strengthened cooperation to face the upcoming Nenggiri by-election, while Gerakan was notably absent during the PN candidate announcement in Gua Musang on July 29.

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