KUALA LUMPUR: PAS Ulama Council acting deputy chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed yesterday castigated PKR’s newly elected vice-president Rafizi Ramli for urging PKR assemblymen in Selangor to turn down any nomination from the Islamist party for the menteri besar’s post.
“Now, do we listen to Rafizi or do we listen to the sultan of Selangor? The sultan has made it very clear in his decree that he wanted at least three names to be submitted.
“The PKR members are free to turn down the nominations later on, but I believe we must do as the palace has requested,” Mahfodz said in reaction to Rafizi’s statement earlier yesterday.
The Pandan member of parliament, who is also PKR strategic director, also urged Selangor party assemblymen to give their full support to PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to be the next menteri besar.
Pas has been steadfast in adhering to Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s decree for all Pakatan component parties to nominate more than two names each by Wednesday for the menteri besar’s post.
The party has already nominated Dr Wan Azizah and her deputy, Azmin Ali, and was reportedly in the midst of discussions to decide on the third candidate.
PKR and DAP, however, have resolved to only nominate Dr Wan Azizah.
Mahfodz said it was up to each party to determine its own candidates and interpret the sultan’s decree as they saw fit.
“There is no need (for Rafizi) to pressure other parties on who should be the most suitable person for the job,” he told the New Straits Times.
Rafizi also came under fire from fellow PKR assemblyman Shuhaimi Shafiei (Sri Muda) yesterday, who described the former’s statement as an insult.
“I felt called to respond as I was shocked by his statement. It is unnecessary for fellow assemblymen and I to be told to withdraw as we are not those who are nominated for the post.
“His call was improper and made us look like we have no principles,” he said in a strongly-worded statement.
Shuhaimi said the fact that all PKR assemblymen had signed a statutory declaration (SD) stating their support for Dr Wan Azizah on Aug 14 was already clear evidence of their compliance to the party’s decision.
“Azmin, who was nominated, has also openly declared that he would abide by the party’s wish and signed the SD to support Dr Wan Azizah.
“Therefore, Rafizi’s statement was uncalled for. He does need to question my loyalty and that of my friends’ to the party.
“My question is, who is Rafizi to force me to do this or that? If he has good ideas, he should take it to the central leadership council to be discussed.” Additional reporting by Eunice Au