Then Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali met Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in London recently to, yet again, talk about the Unity-Government. One of the terms for agreeing to this Unity-Government is that Anwar must be freed from jail.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang has to be ousted because of the crimes he committed, just like Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim was ousted for the crimes he committed as well. So say his critics.
But the sore point to many PAS leaders and members is that are these so-called ‘crimes’ real or fabricated, just like those that were alleged against Khalid? And was it someone else who actually committed these crimes while Hadi is being led to the slaughterhouse instead?
The first crime that Hadi is supposed to have committed is regarding the ousting of Khalid as the Selangor Menteri Besar, or rather his reluctance to support the ousting of Khalid.
Hadi’s argument is simple. If Khalid has committed a transgression then prove it. Thus far it was just an allegation against Khalid and allegations are not yet proof of a crime. If allegations translate to proof of a crime then surely Anwar Ibrahim is also guilty of sodomy.
Then, after ousting Khalid, PKR and DAP wanted him replaced with Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Hadi knew that HRH the Sultan of Selangor could not agree to this and if PAS agreed with PKR and DAP then it would have to cross swords with the Sultan.
For obvious reasons Hadi was not prepared to go into a crisis with the Palace. So he did not agree with Dr Wan Azizah and proposed Azmin Ali instead and HRH the Sultan agreed with this. Hence Hadi saved Pakatan Rakyat from going into a crisis with the Palace even though PKR and DAP did not care two hoots what the Sultan wanted and was prepared to go to war with the Sultan.
Next is the issue of Hudud, another crime attributed to Hadi. But religion is a state matter and the Rulers are the head of religion in their respective states. And HRH the Sultan of Kelantan wants Hudud implemented in Kelantan.
Hence if Pakatan Rakyat, or rather PKR and DAP, do not agree with this they should not attempt to oust Hadi but instead try to oust HRH the Sultan of Kelantan because it is not up to PAS but up to the Sultan whether Hudud is or is not implemented in Kelantan.
And PKR and DAP should not threaten PAS or Hadi but instead threaten HRH the Sultan of Kelantan. In fact, by threatening PAS and Hadi, PKR and DAP are in essence threatening the Sultan because the powers lie with the Sultan and not with PAS or Hadi.
Of course, PAS and Hadi could tell HRH the Sultan of Kelantan to go to hell. But why not PKR and DAP be the first to tell the Sultan to go to hell then maybe PAS and Hadi can pluck up the courage to do the same.
The fourth crime that Hadi is alleged to have committed is regarding the move to form the Unity-Government with Umno. This is what angers the PAS leaders the most because this is a downright lie.
In fact, it was Anwar who first mooted the idea. Anwar then asked Hadi to meet Umno in London in December 2013 to discuss this matter. Hadi, however, did not attend the meeting although he was in London at that time.
Then Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali met Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in London recently to, yet again, talk about the Unity-Government. One of the terms for agreeing to this Unity-Government is that Anwar must be freed from jail.
While Dr Mahathir is open to the idea of the Unity-Government, he is not agreeable to the condition attached — which is Anwar must be freed from jail. Hence this second attempt failed as well, 15 months after the first attempt in 2013.
But now Hadi is being skinned alive for what they allege is his betrayal of the Pakatan Rakyat cause by attempting to form a Unity-Government with Umno. Lembu punya susu, sapi dapat nama, as the Malays would say.
So, Hadi is to be ousted for all these so-called crimes. And they scream about justice for Anwar. But there is no need for justice for Hadi. Is this the Pakatan Rakyat that wants to form the next federal government? I shudder to think what justice we will receive with Pakatan Rakyat as the federal government if they can hang Hadi for crimes he did not commit.
By the way, next week the Selangor State Assembly will be in session and the Pakatan Rakyat State Assemblypersons are said to be planning to wear black, in breach of the dress code, which is the white uniform. This is basically a demonstration to protest the jailing of Anwar.
HRH the Sultan of Selangor has been informed about this and this is going to be a slap on the Sultan’s face. If Pakatan Rakyat proceeds with the plan, I will not be surprised if HRH the Sultan refuses to attend the Assembly. And this would mean the Assembly would not be able to sit since the Sultan would not have legally opened the Assembly.
I would love to see Pakatan Rakyat take on the Sultan of Selangor — of course after it first takes on the Sultan of Kelantan regarding Hudud.
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KUALA LUMPUR: In an act of protest against party president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, more than half of Batu PAS branch committee members have resigned from their posts.
Batu PAS chairman Ishak Surin (pic) said that the resignation of 17 out of PAS Batu’s 25 committee members was due to the dissatisfaction that the members felt towards the party’s central leadership.
“We feel disappointed and sad for what we feel is the failure of PAS’ central leadership, especially the president, for failing to manage the party’s internal issues which have led to prolonged crises in the party.
“The president should hold discussions with grassroots party members to address internal issues within the party that have led to disunity among members,” explained Ishak at a press conference on Monday.
He said that many grassroots members of the party felt that they have been left in the dark over important issues in the party.
He added that they also did not agree with Hadi’s behaviour towards the other two parties in Pakatan Rakyat, PKR and DAP, which they felt might jeopardise the coalition.
“We hope that the president will not be indecisive on issues that involve PAS and Pakatan Rakyat, as he did during the Selangor mentri besar issue,” he said.
PAS Batu vice-chairman Datuk Tarmizi Mohd Jam added that it is especially important that Hadi maintained the unity between PAS and other parties in Pakatan Rakyat.
“This (the mass resignation) is for PAS and Pakatan Rakyat, as without Pakatan Rakyat, PAS will be stronger,” said Tarmizi, adding that it is important for Pakatan Rakyat to stay united for the next general election.
He hoped that the resignation of PAS Batu committee members will spur the party’s central leadership and other members of the party to work towards addressing both the party’s internal issues and its issues with other parties within the Pakatan Rakyat.
“Let us become the candle (lilin) and be burned in sacrifice to ensure a better future for PAS,” he added.
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