PETALING JAYA: PAS members are strictly barred from making comments publicly on internal party matters, particularly on candidate selection in light of the six state polls on Aug 12, says Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (pic).
"PAS strictly prohibits all members from making any public statements regarding the party’s internal matters in any form, be it through the media or video or audio.
"This includes statements that are linked to matters related to election candidates," the PAS secretary-general said in a statement released late Sunday (July 30) night.
The stern reminder by Takiyuddin comes in the wake of dissatisfaction among PAS supporters, particularly over the surprise selection of Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau to contest in the Bayan Lepas state seat in Penang.
The seat, which comprises about 64% Malay voters, is traditionally contested by PAS and was to have been contested by Penang PAS secretary Iszuree Ibrahim in the state election.
It was reported that there were only about 100 individuals, comprising Gerakan and Bersatu members, present when Lau filed his nomination papers at the Belah Hall nomination centre in Teluk Kumbar on Saturday (July 29).
Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu has since admitted that there had been some dispute over the decision to nominate Lau, who is Perikatan Nasional deputy chairman, for the seat.
However, he downplayed the issue saying Lau’s candidacy would not have a negative impact on the majority Malay support for Perikatan in Bayan Lepas.
Meanwhile, Takiyuddin warned members that making statements detrimental to PAS or Perikatan Nasional in the current polls setting would result in disciplinary action against them.
"Any questions or disputes on the party’s internal matters, if any, has to be brought and resolved according to party channels,” he said in relation to Perikatan coalition matters.
He reminded members that selection of candidates was done accordingly and goes through the party's Syura Council, central committee and election department.
He denied that candidate selection was done through demands, pressure or influence from certain quarters.
Prior to his nomination, Lau rubbished claims by disgruntled PAS grassroots that he had resorted to pulling "cables" to land the seat.
