KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — PAS’s Batu division elected its former Ulama wing chief Azhar Yahya as its new head yesterday, after 17 of its 25 top leaders resigned in March to protest against party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
In its annual general meeting attended by PAS assistant secretary Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, the division also unanimously nominated Hadi as party president and vice-president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man as his deputy.
In a statement, the division also said that Azhar has invited the former division leaders to “return to the fold” to avoid any enmity among Muslims; the 17 remain party members despite resigning from their posts.
“Indeed, this congregation is built from love, not from enmity among members,” the division said.
The 17 leaders had resigned from their posts on March 16, in protest of Hadi’s “failure” to resolve the party’s on-going internal crisis and rising internal strife, especially ahead of PAS’ muktamar or annual congress in June.
The old committee had listed down 12 issues which disappointed them, including Hadi’s apparent “flip-flop” in the Selangor mentri besar crisis, his name-calling against party members, “gangster culture” in the party, and persistent rumours of a “unity government” with Umno.
