Resignation as PN treasurer not due to split in coalition - Samsuri

Summary:

• PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar denies he resigned as Perikatan Nasional treasurer-general due to internal strife.

• The Terengganu menteri besar says he made the decision to strengthen the coalition.

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PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar denied that his resignation as Perikatan Nasional treasurer-general was due to a split in the coalition.

He said this when asked if his decision had to do with internal turmoil in PN following Sabah Progressive Party's (SAPP) decision to abandon ship.

"That (SAPP leaving) is a separate issue, it doesn't have anything to do with Sabah.

"What is happening in the peninsular, there is no split, that's what I can say for now - there is no schism whatsoever.

"We are looking for a way to solidify PN as a strong political alliance before we face the next election," he told reporters after attending an event at the Terengganu Al Quran College in Marang today.

Samsuri uploaded a video of the exchange on his social media.

Abrupt resignation

Samsuri set tongues wagging when he abruptly resigned from his PN post last week.

The resignation came after a reshuffle in PN positions - to reflect changes in Bersatu's leadership - which saw the party retaining all its existing posts.

PAS had been lobbying for the PN secretary-general post and Samsuri's resignation was perceived as a protest against Bersatu keeping that post.

SAPP, meanwhile, quit PN claiming it was in protest of the coalition's plans to contest in the next Sabah election - which the party said was against its position that only local parties should contest.

Earlier, Samsuri's only comments on his resignation was a veiled social media post in which he quoted basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar saying: “I try to do the right thing at the right time. They may just be little things, but usually they make the difference between winning and losing.”

The Terengganu menteri besar said with a laugh today that those who want to interpret his action should do so based on this quote.

Samsuri added that he has seen many analysts comment on his actions, which he summarised as being an effort to strengthen PN.

Asked if the decision was personal, Samsuri declined to comment but said that the party leadership was handling the situation.

He also declined to comment on whether he was forced to make the decision, or whether other PAS leaders would also be quitting their PN posts.

There was a rumour that PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan quit as PN deputy secretary-general.

However, Takiyuddin denied this when contacted today.

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