After insults, why stick with Pakatan, Utusan asks PAS

Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia claims that PAS members are upset over the insults heaped on the Islamist party by its Pakatan Rakyat allies, DAP and PKR. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, February 8, 2015.

Does PAS really need DAP and PKR, despite the Islamist party repeatedly being heaped with "insults" from its allies, asked Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia today.

In an article published in its weekend edition, Mingguan Malaysia, columnist Awang Selamat said PAS grassroots were upset and embarrassed that the party was being continuously bullied by its partners in the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

"Where is the party's dignity? The question is, for how long can PAS bear such insult? To Awang, this is no longer about the beard and turbans of PAS leaders who had been insulted numerous times.

"Or is it because PAS has no choice, it needs DAP and PKR more?" asked Awang Selamat, which is the pseudonym for the Malay language newspaper collective editorial team.

Awang  Selamat said the "insults" heaped on PAS never abated throughout the week, citing DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statements as examples.

Last December, Anwar had said PAS-led Kelantan government's plan to table an amendment on hudud in its state assembly was problematic, as it had no powers to enforce the Islamic criminal law in the state.

Ahead of today's PR leadership council meeting, Anwar had also urged PAS to table the proposed amendments at the meeting, but this was shot down by Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob.

Lim had also openly engaged in a war of words with PAS top leaders, like president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and secretary-general Datuk Mustaffa Ali, over its plan to enact hudud in Kelantan.

This prompted Awang Selamat to claim that the Penang chief minister was arrogant and continued to "whack" Hadi and the conservative ulama faction in PAS.

- TMI