PAS unhappy with Azmin’s appointment as PN sec-gen, says source

FMT:

 

PAS unhappy with

Azmin’s appointment as

PN sec-gen, says source

FMT Reporters

-27 Nov 2024, 12:43 PM

The source says Azmin Ali’s appointment as PN’s new secretary-general was rushed and not discussed within the coalition.

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PAS Youth had proposed the party’s secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan (right) for the role in PN, instead of Azmin Ali as announced by coalition chairman Muhyiddin Yassin.

PETALING JAYA: 

Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin’s appointment of Azmin Ali as the incoming secretary-general for both Bersatu and PN has caused dissatisfaction within PAS, according to a source in Bersatu.

The source, who asked to remain anonymous, pointed to PAS Youth’s proposal of the party’s secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan for the role in PN.

“I’m not sure why the announcement of Azmin as PN’s new secretary-general was made in a hurry but PAS does not seem to be comfortable with it,” he told FMT.

The source also noted that Hamzah Zainudin’s previous appointment as PN secretary-general was made after discussions in the Supreme Council, taking into consideration the views of all components.

“The appointment of the opposition leader and PN secretary-general before this went through negotiations, and PAS itself agreed to Hamzah’s appointment,” he said.

Muhyiddin was recently reported by Sinar Harian as confirming that Azmin would take on the post of secretary-general for both Bersatu and PN, with a formal announcement to come.

Hamzah will leave his post of secretary-general as he will be taking a deputy president’s post in Bersatu following his victory in the party polls early this month.

PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, who is also PN Youth chief, then said Takiyuddin would be a suitable replacement for Hamzah, citing his experience and seniority within PN and his current position as deputy secretary-general.

The source also said there were concerns that Azmin’s appointment might widen a rift between PAS and Bersatu.

“Before this, Ahmad Faizal Azumu’s announcement of Muhyiddin as the coalition’s prime ministerial candidate sparked a public exchange of opinions between PN leaders.

“Now, it’s the issue of Muhyiddin appointing the PN secretary-general without discussions,” he said.

Utusan quoted PAS spiritual adviser Hashim Jasin as saying last week that PAS was more worthy of leading PN, given the party’s larger parliamentary representation and stronger grassroots network nationwide.

Hashim also said PAS did not have a record of elected representatives party-hopping.

Gerakan president Dominic Lau later defended Muhyiddin as PN’s “poster boy” for the 16th general election.

PAS currently holds the lion’s share of seats in the Dewan Rakyat at 43 – 18 more than its coalition ally Bersatu.

Bersatu meanwhile won 31 seats in the 2022 general election but was left with 25 after terminating the memberships of six MPs who declared their support for Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government.