KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 — Seventeen out of 25 executive committee members of Batu PAS, including its top leaders resigned with immediate effect today to protest president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s “failure” to resolve the party’s on-going internal crisis.

According to the division, Hadi and the party’s top leadership has failed to tackle rising internal strife especially ahead of PAS’ muktamar or annual congress in June.

“Our media conference today is to state our disappointment, sorrow and regret towards PAS central leadership especially president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang who has failed to tackle internal issues until sparking a continuing crisis in the party,” Batu PAS chief Ishak Surin told reporters here.

“We announce that we’re taking the action of mufarakah from PAS’ current leadership and mufarakah from leading the Batu division,” he added.


Mufarakah refers to the act of dissociating oneself from one’s leader, but still remaining in the group.

Ishak clarified that all 17 of them are still PAS members but will not seek reelection for the next term.

Besides Ishak, the 17 who resigned included deputy chief Datuk Shuhaimi Ab Rahaman, vice-chief Datuk Tarmizi Mohd Jam, secretary Datuk Ismail Yahaya, deputy secretary Hairulnizam Mohd Rosli, information chief Marzuki Zakaria, elections director Jamhor Nawawi, treasurer Rosden Yassin, and nine other committee members.

The division also stopped short of naming their pick for president, saying it would leave the decision to the delegates in the muktamar.

Ishak had previously suggested that Hadi should take up the post of spiritual leader, prior to Datuk Dr Haron Din’s appointment.

The division listed down 12 issues which disappointed them, including Hadi’s apparent “flip-flop” in the Selangor mentri besar crisis, Hadi’s name-calling against party members, “gangster culture” in the party, and persistent rumours of a “unity government” with Umno.

“Let us be the candle in this issue. Let us melt away but light the way for the party in the muktamar,” Tarmizi said in the conference.

A new rift was formed in PAS after some members accused top leaders of trying to overthrow Abdul Hadi, with deputy president Mohamad Sabu and elections director Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli being accused of involvement.

Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa) — a critical pressure group within the Islamist party—has also been targeted, after its powerful Syura Council banned members from joining it.

In the run up to the muktamar, several divisions have since nominated vice-president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Datuk Husam Musa to replace Hadi, although the former has declined the nomination.