KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — PKR representatives have yet to leave their positions in PAS-led Kelantan out of a sense of duty, the party’s vice-president Chua Tian Chang said today.

He also clarified that the Pakatan Harapan party had not “instructed” its representatives in Kelantan’s local councils to step down on May 16, but had merely requested them to submit their resignations as an ethical response to PAS cutting ties with PKR.

“I think on all counts, we should understand that government function should not be obstructed or disrupted by political disputes,” the Batu MP popularly known as Tian Chua told Malay Mail Online.

“So I think Kelantan and Selangor governments take the position that they have a duty to do, they’ll continue their function. Whatever political relations or negotiations at central is not really their consideration. Their consideration is to make sure Kelantan and Selangor continue to function,” he added.

Chua also said that Kelantan PAS leaders have indicated they want the PKR representatives to stay on in the state government even after they expressed an intention to resign.

National newswire Bernama quoted Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah as saying last month that he hoped the PKR appointees would stay on to serve the people.

News portal Malaysiakini reported Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yaakob as saying yesterday that no PKR representatives have resigned from their positions in the state’s local councils yet.

PKR’s sole elected lawmaker in Kelantan is Guchil assemblyman Mohd Roslan Puteh, but the party is reported to have about 100 other members holding political posts there as municipal councillors, constituency coordinators, village chiefs and board members in the state government-linked companies.

The three Selangor state executive councillors from PAS have also stayed put in the PKR-led state government, even though the Islamist party’s syura council had decided on May 11 that PAS terminate its political cooperation with PKR.

Chua pointed out, however, that PKR leaders who were appointed in Kelantan local councils after the PKR’s May 16 political bureau decision have yet to take their oath of office.

“At this time when Raya is coming and you know Kelantan has so many jobs to do, I think it’s right for them to continue doing their job until there’s a new agreement,” he said, referring to the existing PKR representatives in Kelantan.