PAS today warned its members against making public statements about the Islamist party’s internal affairs. 

Party secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the gag order also applied to any talk about the PAS election candidates.

“Every member must remember that the candidates were selected to represent PAS in parliament and the state assembly in accordance with the provisions of the party constitution and not upon insistence, pressure or influence,” Takiyuddin said in a statement last night on Facebook.

“(The candidates) were vetted on several levels including the shura council, central working committee, and election department.

“Members must stop making statements (about the selection process), especially those that could adversely affect support for PAS and Perikatan Nasional, or face disciplinary action.

Takiyuddin did not name names but his warning followed two internal disputes that became public on social media.

In one episode, PAS member Nik Din Nik Mat, younger brother of the late former Kelantan menteri besar Nik Abdul Aziz, had urged voters in Panchor to reject party vice-president Mohd Amar Abdullah.

Nik Din had accused Mohd Amar of masterminding the exclusion of Nik Aziz’s son, Nik Mohammad Abduh from the Perikatan Nasional list of candidates.

In the second quarrel, in Penang PAS secretary Iszuree Ismail had said in a now-deleted Facebook post that the party had agreed to give way for a non-Muslim candidate to stand in a Malay-majority seat.

Iszuree had said that he had evidence to show it was a PN central leadership decision

Takiyuddin said any disputes within the party should be resolved in private.

He said he was confident voters would give PAS and its coalition partner PN the mandate in the August 12 elections. – July 31, 2023.