ALOR SETAR: The political crisis in Kedah PAS plunged to new depths with Kuala Kedah chief Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi directing his deputy in the division, Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah (pic), to quit his state exco post as a show of support for him.
Phahrolrazi and his ally Dr Ismail Salleh both absented themselves from the swearing-in of eight executive councillors on Tuesday while not ruling out the possibility of joining the government later.
Phahrolrazi, who has twice tried to oust Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, said yesterday that he had submitted to the party’s central leadership conditions for him to consider being reappointed.
On his directive to Amiruddin, he said this was in line with a motion passed by the division at a meeting on Feb 17 that the other two state assemblymen from Kuala Kedah – Amiruddin of Anak Bukit and Mohd Nasir Mustafa of Kubang Rotan – should not accept any offer of a state exco post as a gesture of support for Phahrolrazi.
Phahrolrazi said the motion was passed at a meeting attended by Mohd Nasir in his capacity as division vice-chairman.
Twenty-two committee members attended the meeting, including representatives of the Youth and Wanita wings. Amiruddin was absent.
Phahrolrazi said the decision of the division was promptly conveyed by letter to Amiruddin.
He said a second letter would be sent to Amiruddin soon, giving him 14 days to explain why he ignored the directive.
“If Amiruddin wants to support me, he should quit (as exco member). If he wants to remain as an exco member, he will be isolated in the division,” Phahrolrazi said.
However, he declined to answer if the motion of rejecting an exco post applied to him as well since he had stated on Tuesday that he would consider being reappointed if the conditions he set were met.
“I have submitted my conditions and it is now up to PAS leaders to evaluate,” he said.
Azizan, meanwhile, said he was leaving it to the central committee to decide on Phahrolrazi’s conditions.
Amiruddin said he had explained to the division after the Feb 17 meeting why he accepted the exco post.
“But since they want me to explain further, l will do so when I receive the (second) letter,” he added.
– THE STAR
