MP for Parit Buntar Mujahid Yusof, renowned in recent times as a counsel of moderation within his party and without, is certain that the discussion in tomorrow's meeting of the PAS central committee would be intense but will not result in the break-up of Pakatan Rakyat.
“PAS is committed to Pakatan,” iterated Mujahid, “but is not likely to yield on their objections to the PKR candidate to replace Khalid Ibrahim.”
Pressed on how the meeting would go at his Hari Raya open house in Parit Buntar earlier today, the central committee member said the discussion on the issue of Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, whose removal is hotly demanded by PAS's Pakatan allies PKR and DAP, would be "intense but will not result in a decision to depart the opposition alliance."
"Though we were not happy with the 'Kajang Move' we went along with it, and though we are not happy with the decision to replace Khalid Ibrahim as the Selangor MB, we are not flatly opposed to it," said Mujahid.
"But I think our objections to Dr Azizah as replacement for Khalid is going to stay," predicted the parliamentarian, famed in recent years as a forger of bridges over troubled waters, especially in the matter of relations between Muslims and Christians on the peninsula.
Mujahid said it was likely that his party would see that their yielding, in spite of their reservations over the 'Kajang Move' and the decision to remove Khalid as Selangor MB, was sufficient placation of PKR and DAP.
The 'Kajang Move' was the decision of PKR to have its Selangor state assembly representative for Kajang, Lee Chin Cheh, vacate his seat so that PKR adviser Anwar Ibrahim could stand as the candidate, a move that would have placed Anwar in line to replace Khalid as MB of Selangor.
But that move was derailed by the Court of Appeal which on March 7 upheld a government appeal against Anwar's acquittal in January 2012 on a charge of sodomy. Anwar has appealed the decision and the matter will be heard by the Federal Court in October.
No reasons given
Mujahid declined to give the reasons for PAS' objections to Azizah as replacement for Khalid and seemed unperturbed that a reluctance to dilate on them was suspect.
Perhaps Malay political culture regarded reticence in these matters as de rigueur.
"Now that Khalid has been expelled by PKR, the question of PAS' support for him does not arise. But I think the objection to Azizah would stay," opined Mujahid.
He said he perceived that the manner in which all three component parties of Pakatan conducted themselves over the Khalid issue would be "sickening" to voters who endorsed the opposition coalition at last general elections.
"If we continue to proceed in this way, don't be surprised we will be rejected by the people who voted for us in the hope of a new politics in Malaysia," said Mujahid.
It was obvious that the "new politics" that Mujahid was referring to is politics not tinged by nepotism, cronyism and corruption, the besetting vices of Umno-BN, governors of the Malaysian polity since independence 57 years ago, and set to continue by default of Pakatan.
“PAS is committed to Pakatan,” iterated Mujahid, “but is not likely to yield on their objections to the PKR candidate to replace Khalid Ibrahim.”
Pressed on how the meeting would go at his Hari Raya open house in Parit Buntar earlier today, the central committee member said the discussion on the issue of Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, whose removal is hotly demanded by PAS's Pakatan allies PKR and DAP, would be "intense but will not result in a decision to depart the opposition alliance."
"Though we were not happy with the 'Kajang Move' we went along with it, and though we are not happy with the decision to replace Khalid Ibrahim as the Selangor MB, we are not flatly opposed to it," said Mujahid."But I think our objections to Dr Azizah as replacement for Khalid is going to stay," predicted the parliamentarian, famed in recent years as a forger of bridges over troubled waters, especially in the matter of relations between Muslims and Christians on the peninsula.
Mujahid said it was likely that his party would see that their yielding, in spite of their reservations over the 'Kajang Move' and the decision to remove Khalid as Selangor MB, was sufficient placation of PKR and DAP.
The 'Kajang Move' was the decision of PKR to have its Selangor state assembly representative for Kajang, Lee Chin Cheh, vacate his seat so that PKR adviser Anwar Ibrahim could stand as the candidate, a move that would have placed Anwar in line to replace Khalid as MB of Selangor.
But that move was derailed by the Court of Appeal which on March 7 upheld a government appeal against Anwar's acquittal in January 2012 on a charge of sodomy. Anwar has appealed the decision and the matter will be heard by the Federal Court in October.
No reasons given
Mujahid declined to give the reasons for PAS' objections to Azizah as replacement for Khalid and seemed unperturbed that a reluctance to dilate on them was suspect.
Perhaps Malay political culture regarded reticence in these matters as de rigueur.
"Now that Khalid has been expelled by PKR, the question of PAS' support for him does not arise. But I think the objection to Azizah would stay," opined Mujahid.He said he perceived that the manner in which all three component parties of Pakatan conducted themselves over the Khalid issue would be "sickening" to voters who endorsed the opposition coalition at last general elections.
"If we continue to proceed in this way, don't be surprised we will be rejected by the people who voted for us in the hope of a new politics in Malaysia," said Mujahid.
It was obvious that the "new politics" that Mujahid was referring to is politics not tinged by nepotism, cronyism and corruption, the besetting vices of Umno-BN, governors of the Malaysian polity since independence 57 years ago, and set to continue by default of Pakatan.
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