Takiyuddin described the meeting on Sunday as harmonious and a sign of cordial relations between PAS and Bersatu, especially in light of a controversy surrounding the resignation of PAS’ Sanglang assemblyman Mohd Shukri Ramli as chief minister last December. Bersatu’s Kuala Perlis assemblyman Abu Bakar Hamzah replaced him in the post.
Shukri’s resignation came after eight statutory declarations were signed by state assemblymen – three from PAS and five from Bersatu – retracting their support for him.
Shukri cited health reasons for stepping down, but said he was blindsided by the withdrawal of support from PN state assemblymen.
Local media reported that Sunday’s supreme council meeting was the first full gathering of the coalition’s top leadership since the crisis in December.
“We must prepare for the elections and show unity. Politics requires patience; sometimes we must respond immediately and sometimes remain calm. There is no need to create further issues. Let Perikatan move forward positively,” said Takiyuddin.
At the press conference after the meeting, Takiyuddin also said that Muhyiddin had been appointed as PN deputy chairman and that other deputy positions in the coalition remain unchanged.
He also confirmed that PAS president Abdul Hadi had chosen not to sit in the PN supreme council.
“The other deputy positions remain as before, except that PAS president does not wish to be part of the PN supreme council,” said Takiyuddin, as quoted by Malay Mail.
“He will only be in the presidential council.”
Takiyuddin also said that discussions were still ongoing about a new Opposition Leader in Parliament to replace Hamzah Zainudin, who was recently sacked from Bersatu for allegedly breaching the party’s constitution.
According to local news platform Bernama, Takiyuddin added that PN component parties had agreed that the position should be held by PAS, but a decision was yet to be made, as “PAS requires a bit more time to study the matter”.
Takiyuddin, who is also the Chief Whip of PN, said that there is no urgent need to remove Hamzah, according to The Star.
He added that the opposition coalition plans to amend its constitution to strengthen both its presidential council and supreme council as part of efforts to strengthen the coalition ahead of future elections.
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