The 13 PAS state assemblypersons in Selangor will not sign statutory declarations (SD) to support Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the new Selangor menteri besar, the party confirmed today.
PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali confirmed this to reporters after persistent questioning, saying the party will instead leave the decision on the new MB to the Selangor palace.
Initially, Mustafa said that the issue of the support letters was "raised but not discussed" at the central committee meeting today.
But after being pressed by reporters to clarify the matter, Mustafa said, "No" when asked if PAS would instruct its remaining assemblypersons to sign the SDs.
"Not discussed means no (to signing)," he said.
This excludes the two PAS assemblypersons - Saari Sungib (right) (Hulu Kelang) and Hasnul Baharuddin (Morib) - who had earlier broken ranks with their party to sign the SDs pledging support for Wan Azizah, the PKR president.
Even without PAS' remaining 13 SDs, Saari and Hasnul give Wan Azizah the requisite majority of 30 out of 56 Selangor assemblypersons to become the MB.
However, PKR is keen on showing overwhelming support for Wan Azizah (left) amid concerns that the Selangor palace does not favour her and may not consent to her appointment.
PAS at its central committee meeting on Aug 17 finally decided to withdraw support for embattled Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, but nominated both Wan Azizah and her deputy Azmin Ali to replace him.
This is despite PKR, with DAP's backing, insisting on nominating only Wan Azizah as the new menteri besar.
'Let sultan decide'
Mustafa insisted that PAS will leave the decision to the Selangor sultan.
"The PAS central committee meeting today agreed to leave it to the Selangor sultan's wisdom and consent in determining the Selangor menteri besar position," he said, reading from an official statement.
Elaborating at the press conference about the brief statement, Mustafa said: “Tuanku can choose, Tuanku can choose who he wants”.
His response appears to be contrary to Pakatan's stand to submit only Wan Azizah's name.
On a separate matter, Mustafa acknowledged that the Pengkalan Kubor by-election should be contested by PKR, based on the norm during past general elections.
However, he did not completely dismiss calls from certain party leaders, such as PAS Muslimat chief Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, for the seat to be given to PAS to contest against Umno.
"It is not necessarily that we are bound as such, if there is a new decision based on winnability (of the candidate)," he said.
However, Mustafa stressed this must be done in consultation with PKR and until then, the status quo is that the seat belongs to PKR.
The Pengkalan Kubor seat fell vacant following the death of Noor Zahidi Omar, 57, of Umno, who died of liver cancer on Aug 20.
PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali confirmed this to reporters after persistent questioning, saying the party will instead leave the decision on the new MB to the Selangor palace.
Initially, Mustafa said that the issue of the support letters was "raised but not discussed" at the central committee meeting today.
But after being pressed by reporters to clarify the matter, Mustafa said, "No" when asked if PAS would instruct its remaining assemblypersons to sign the SDs."Not discussed means no (to signing)," he said.
This excludes the two PAS assemblypersons - Saari Sungib (right) (Hulu Kelang) and Hasnul Baharuddin (Morib) - who had earlier broken ranks with their party to sign the SDs pledging support for Wan Azizah, the PKR president.
Even without PAS' remaining 13 SDs, Saari and Hasnul give Wan Azizah the requisite majority of 30 out of 56 Selangor assemblypersons to become the MB.
However, PKR is keen on showing overwhelming support for Wan Azizah (left) amid concerns that the Selangor palace does not favour her and may not consent to her appointment.PAS at its central committee meeting on Aug 17 finally decided to withdraw support for embattled Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, but nominated both Wan Azizah and her deputy Azmin Ali to replace him.
This is despite PKR, with DAP's backing, insisting on nominating only Wan Azizah as the new menteri besar.
'Let sultan decide'
Mustafa insisted that PAS will leave the decision to the Selangor sultan.
"The PAS central committee meeting today agreed to leave it to the Selangor sultan's wisdom and consent in determining the Selangor menteri besar position," he said, reading from an official statement.Elaborating at the press conference about the brief statement, Mustafa said: “Tuanku can choose, Tuanku can choose who he wants”.
His response appears to be contrary to Pakatan's stand to submit only Wan Azizah's name.On a separate matter, Mustafa acknowledged that the Pengkalan Kubor by-election should be contested by PKR, based on the norm during past general elections.
However, he did not completely dismiss calls from certain party leaders, such as PAS Muslimat chief Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, for the seat to be given to PAS to contest against Umno.
"It is not necessarily that we are bound as such, if there is a new decision based on winnability (of the candidate)," he said.
However, Mustafa stressed this must be done in consultation with PKR and until then, the status quo is that the seat belongs to PKR.
The Pengkalan Kubor seat fell vacant following the death of Noor Zahidi Omar, 57, of Umno, who died of liver cancer on Aug 20.
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