Saifuddin axed from Pahang PN leadership after criticising Muhyiddin

Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah has been removed from his position as Pahang state liaison chief for Perikatan Nasional, following a decision by the coalition’s supreme council.

In a statement issued late last night, PN secretary-general Azmin Ali announced that PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has been appointed as Saifuddin’s replacement.

The decision came after Saifuddin (above) joined the ranks of those openly calling for Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin to step down and make way for new leadership. Bersatu is the linchpin of PN.

Saifuddin also turned against his former PKR ally, Azmin, saying that the latter must be removed from his post to rid the party of moral problems which impact its reputation.

This is believed to be in reference to Azmin’s sex video scandal six years ago, which has become ammunition in the fight to control Bersatu.

Saifuddin and six other Bersatu division leaders also want Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz to be replaced.

Saifuddin is the third lawmaker to publicly turn against Muhyiddin, after Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

Wan Saiful was axed from Bersatu on Oct 14, while Wan Fayhsal was suspended.

‘Appropriate decision’

Pahang Bersatu deputy chief Jasri Jamaludin described the change as a “timely and appropriate” decision.

He said it had been highly anticipated and urged all parties to respect the outcome.

“Saifuddin is no longer PN chief for Pahang, and it is appropriate that he is replaced by Tuan Ibrahim, who is also a member of the opposition for the Pahang state assembly,” he said.

Further, Jasri praised Tuan Ibrahim’s appointment as an added value to the coalition and acknowledged that the PAS vice-president also had a strong influence in Pahang.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin himself took the news on the chin.

He said he had contacted Tuan Ibrahim to express his support and offered the continued use of his Indera Mahkota parliamentary service centre as the Pahang PN office.

He also expressed confidence that Tuan Ibrahim’s appointment would strengthen PN’s ambitions to capture Pahang in the next election.

Perlis MB also dropped

PN also announced it had relieved the duties of two other state liaison chiefs, including Perlis Menteri Besar Shukri Ramli, naming Arau MP Shahidan Kassim as his replacement as Perlis PN chief.

For the Malacca PN chief position, Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin has been appointed to take over from fellow Bersatu member Dr Yadzil Yaakub.

PN ‘near death’

Yesterday, a PAS leader painted a bleak outlook for PN’s future, amid a power tussle in Bersatu over the party presidency.

In a brief social media post, Zuhdi Marsuki said the opposition coalition was showing signs of “nazak” (nearing death).

“I have said before that PN is facing a major problem. If it is not cured immediately, PN will be nearing death,” the former PAS central committee member said.

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