KUALA TERENGGANU: The uncle of the Sultan of Terengganu, Tengku Seri Paduka Raja Tengku Ibrahim Ismail Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah today announced that he is quitting Pas and politics altogether.
Tengku Ibrahim, 76, who was an ordinary Pas member, said that the time had come for him to call it a day after being disappointed with the infighting within the party.
"I feel disheartened with the infighting within Pas. I feel the direction of the party's struggles is no longer conducive for me to continue to remain in Pas, even as an ordinary member.
"I believe that Pas’ present direction has wavered far from its original objective where Pas and its Pakatan partners had progressed to compete with Umno/Barisan Nasional in the next 14th General Election.
"I do not see how Pas on its own can desire to take over Putrajaya from the ruling coalition," said Tengku Ibrahim, whose nephew is Sultan Mizan Sultan Zainal Abidin.
"This is a golden opportunity for Pakatan to get their house in order to take over the ruling BN government. Please stop the infighting and internal disputes," he said at his home in Batu Burok.
Tengku Ibrahim said the strategy played by Pas lately did not reflect maturity to strengthen the party and collaborate with its Pakatan allies.
"The people can see how experienced professional Pas members had debated fiercely many relevant issues in Parliament, much to the former's amazement.
"However, these professionals were sidelined by the ulama at the Pas muktamar recently, much to the public's disappointment as the party has been severely weakened," he said.
Asked on his next move, Tengku Ibrahim said he wanted to rest and spend more time with his grandchildren.
"Age has caught up with me. I see no future with Pas or even its splinter group, Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB) as it is yet to be a political party," he said.