Hadi denies PAS has proposed PN chair, says decision still pending

• UPDATED 5.55PM | Included more detailed comments from PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has denied claims that his party has submitted names for the Perikatan Nasional chairperson candidacy.

Instead, Hadi said that the decision has been fully entrusted to the party’s central leadership for deliberation.

“(No names) yet, not yet,” he said when asked whether PAS had already put forward a candidate for the post at a press conference in Marang, Terengganu, today.

When asked if at least one name had been submitted, the Marang MP replied in the negative.

Hadi said that the PAS central committee meeting, which was expected to discuss the candidacy, has been postponed to next week.

He added that PN also has not met on the matter, as the coalition has no secretary after all incumbents stepped down.

“The (PAS central committee) meeting hasn’t been held yet. It will be held next week.

“PN has not held (a meeting) either, since there is no secretary yet, after everyone has resigned.

“But with the number of members they have, (the decision) can be made in a meeting,” he explained.

Hadi also joked that some quarters are too dependent on him when making decisions, emphasising that he is ready to assist whoever is elected as the next PN chairperson.

‘PAS alone cannot win’

Addressing concerns among some parties about the possibility of PAS leading PN, Hadi said the issue would be resolved once administrative processes proceed as usual.

He stressed that PAS alone cannot win elections.

“That concern will be resolved once the process runs its course. It will be resolved, but we must realise that we need support not only from Muslims but also from non-Muslims.

“It can’t be PAS alone. If it’s only PAS, we can’t win,” he said.

Hadi added that PAS has decided to reject any offers to lead in the Perlis state government, following invitations extended to certain state assembly members from the party.

“We have decided that we will not accept those positions. Because we consider toppling the (previous) government a betrayal,” he said.

PAS info chief says candidate picked

Hadi’s statement today appeared to contradict that of his information chief, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.

Yesterday, Fadhli said that his party has already decided on a candidate.

Speaking to reporters in Kota Bharu yesterday, Fadhli, however, declined to confirm speculation that Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar would be nominated as the coalition’s new leader.

“I can’t confirm that. At the PAS level, a name has been confirmed, whether it has been relayed (to former PN chief Muhyiddin Yassin), I’m not sure,” he said.

Malaysiakini obtained a recording of his remarks to the press.

Interestingly, Fadhli also noted that the PN constitution does not contain any specific provisions requiring that the coalition chairperson also be the president of one of its component parties.

Samsuri is one of three PAS vice-presidents. Another frontrunner for the post is PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

Despite Samsuri being a favourite pick among pundits and observers, his position as a vice-president has raised questions about whether he can consolidate support from more senior leaders outside of PAS, such as Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin and Gerakan president Dominic Lau.

However, PN has made unconventional choices before.

In the past, the opposition leader’s post in Parliament would go to the top leader of the main opposition pact. However, PN had elevated Hamzah to the post over Muhyiddin and Hadi.

Perlis coup

PAS is poised to take over the PN leadership after Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin resigned as coalition chief, raising questions about the future of the federal opposition.

The upheaval followed a coup in Perlis, where eight assemblypersons - five from Bersatu and three from PAS - withdrew confidence for PAS’ Shukri Ramli as menteri besar.

The tensions led PAS to threaten to go solo. However, tempers eased when Muhyiddin resigned as PN chief, opening the door for PAS to take over the coalition.

Hadi has since declared his party’s readiness to lead PN. However, speculation persists over Muhyiddin’s successor, further fuelled by Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar’s meeting with the former premier yesterday, shortly after his return from London.

The party has since hinted at their pick for PN chief, but is still playing its cards close to the chest for now.

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