KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — The decision to approve the motion at the PAS muktamar to sever ties with the DAP without debate was made by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Datuk Mahfuz Omar said yesterday.

Mahfuz, chairman of the motion selection committee at the PAS annual meeting last week, told local daily Sinar Harian that he was instructed to approve the motion without debate at a meeting with Hadi, PAS spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din, newly elected deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, former deputy president Mohamad Sabu and secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali.

“At the meeting, I spoke about the implications should the motion be debated or not, but all of them wanted the motion approved without debate, so I just followed instructions,” Mahfuz was quoted saying.

“At the muktamar, members of the Syura Council were also among the representatives. If they had wanted the motion to be debated, they could have done so because the muktamar has powers,” he added.

The controversial motion brought by PAS’ ulama wing has triggered resignations from Mohamad and Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa, another member of the party’s progressive faction that lost the party elections, from their posts in the Penang government.

Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said after the muktamar that it was untenable for PAS members to remain as officials in his administration.

PAS’ move to end its relationship with Pakatan Rakyat (PR) ally DAP has also jeopardised the Selangor state government, with both parties demanding that PKR choose sides.