KOTA BARU: The recent move by two members of Parliament (MP) from Kelantan to declare their support to the Prime Minister and the unity government, is a blow to both Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and state Pas.
Sources said the unexpected move by Mohd Azizi Abu Naim who is the Gua Musang MP and Datuk Zahari Kechik (Jeli MP) had surprised leaders of both parties as well as the party's members.
"The move could be described as a nightmare to both parties. For Bersatu, their 'new experience' of being part of the state government as well as the 'new relationship' with state Pas might be affected.
"The party also fears that the small number of Bersatu MPs in Kelantan, will slowly change.
"For state Pas, who proudly celebrated its victory when the party managed to sweep all the 14 parliamentary constituencies in the 15th General Election (GE15), they will be affected too," said the sources.
The Gua Musang and Jeli parliamentary constituencies were among five contested by Bersatu in Kelantan during GE15.
The other three parliamentary constituencies were Machang, Tanah Merah and Ketereh.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Pas secretary Wan Roslan Wan Hamat said the party would hold a meeting with Bersatu soon.
"The meeting is to discuss the issue involving the two MPs. Pas will only issue an official statement after the meeting," said the Pengkalan Kubor assemblyman.
State Bersatu chief Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor said he would travel to Kuala Lumpur today to meet Bersatu's central leaders.
"We will discuss details on the issue include the next course of action to be taken against the two MPs," he said.
Kelantan State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the assembly is still waiting for the Dewan Rakyat's decision on Mohd Azizi's position.
"Mohd Azizi is also the Nenggiri assemblyman and he is supposed to attend the state assembly sitting scheduled to begin on Nov 22.
"I can't say whether he will remain at the same seat or move to the opposition side during the coming sitting as Dewan Rakyat has yet to make its decision," he told the New Straits Times.
The Kelantan Assembly sitting has 45 state assemblymen with 43 from Pas and two from Pakatan Harapan (PH).
The two PH representatives are Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim (Galas) and Dr Hafidzah Mustakim (Kota Lama).
The announcement made by the two MPs yesterday and on Tuesday caught the attention of many.
Both had declared their support for the Madani government for the well-being of their constituents.