Tuan Ibrahim: Samsuri helming PN won't cost PAS seats

PAS deputy-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has rejected claims that replacing Muhyiddin Yassin with PAS’ Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as Perikatan Nasional chairperson would cause electoral losses to the party.

He described those views as “far from reality”, highlighting how the Islamist party in Terengganu, under Samsuri’s leadership as menteri besar, had been especially successful.

He noted that PAS won all state assembly and Parliament seats in Terengganu in recent elections.

“Samsuri’s leadership of Terengganu is unlike anything we have seen before. Previously, we have never seen such record achievements in Terengganu, where (PN) had won 40 seats (state and Parliament).

“So if you would like to argue that Samsuri’s leadership would lead to PAS losing seats, it would likely be far from reality,” he told reporters at an event in Kelantan yesterday evening.

His remarks were in response to claims by Sungai Buloh PAS chief Zaharudin Muhammad, who cautioned against Samsuri (above) assuming the role of PN chairperson.

On Jan 14, Zaharudin, who is also the son-in-law of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, warned that the move could cost the Islamist party as many as 37 parliamentary seats, arguing that his analysis was based on internal data.

Muhyiddin stepped down as PN chairperson on Dec 30 following a crisis in the Perlis government, which saw relations between the two parties become increasingly tense after the menteri besar post went from Bersatu to PAS.

Speculations have arisen over his successor, with PAS staking claims to the post without naming the party’s candidate.

Commenting further on Zaharudin’s remarks, Tuan Ibrahim dismissed them as “personal views”, which were not representative of the party.

He reiterated that PAS’ wins in Terengganu under Samsuri’s leadership had been “an incredible achievement,” and disagreed with claims that Samsuri’s performance would decline.

“But regardless of whoever is chosen as the replacement, what is important is our commitment to continue strengthening the coalition,” he said.

“When the leadership of each party has already made a decision, what is important is that we support those decisions, and that we support efforts to strengthen PN, especially in preparation for GE16 (16th general election),” he emphasised.

Akmal now, who else?

Separately, when asked about Umno Youth Chief Dr Akmal Saleh’s resignation from Malacca’s executive council, the Kubang Kerian MP applauded the move, urging that similar actions should be made at Umno’s senior leadership.

“If Akmal can show his commitment to fighting DAP’s extreme actions, then something similar should also be taken into account within the party’s core.

“We would like to see how far the central committee would go to take similar actions, and to not compromise against matters that often lead to polemics,” he said.

Tuan Ibrahim also reminded that if Umno wanted to continue being seen as fighting for Malay-Muslim interests, then such actions should not only be taken at a state level, but nationwide.

Although he applauded Akmal’s move, he questioned its overall impact, especially if similar actions were not taken by the party to defend its values.

“I sincerely congratulate Akmal for his decision. But such actions often do not lead to a significant impact if they are not followed up with other actions.

“Because if he only resigns from his role as Malacca exco, what impact would this leave on Umno as a whole? But again, that is his personal right.

“But I believe that whatever it is, it must bring an impact. Akmal’s actions are a sign of commitment to the values that Umno Youth has fought for,” he said.

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