KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — The remaining eight executive council members of Batu PAS pledged their loyalty to party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang today, after 17 of its top leaders announced their resignation in protest yesterday.

The remaining leaders, who had refused to follow suit, said they are now waiting for decision from PAS before holding their annual general meeting which was scheduled for April 19.

“We are confident that the new leadership appointed in next month’s annual general meeting will be more outstanding in continuing this leadership legacy,” the eight said in a statement late last night.

“Finally, we would also like to emphasise our full support for the leadership of Hadi as PAS president.”

The statement was signed by among others its Ulama coordinator Azhar Yahya, Youth wing chief Nurul Islam Mohamed Yusoff, and Women wing chief Salbiah Abd Wahab.

Yesterday, outgoing Batu PAS chief Ishak Surin blamed Hadi and the party’s top leadership for failing to tackle rising internal strife especially ahead of PAS’ muktamar or annual congress in June.

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 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.