KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar today stressed that PAS is also a founding member of the opposition coalition, saying PN does not belong exclusively to any single party amid lingering questions over the bloc’s future.
In a statement, the Terengganu menteri besar said PN was established through the consensus of its founding parties and must continue to operate according to its constitution and official decision-making channels.
“I wish to emphasise that PN does not belong exclusively to any single party. PN is a constitutional political coalition established on the basis of consensus among its founding parties.
“PAS is also one of PN’s founding parties, and I myself was among the official signatories to the coalition’s establishment,” he said.
Samsuri’s remarks come two days after Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said his party would remain in PN despite PAS ending political cooperation with his party, insisting that Bersatu was a founding member of the coalition.
Without naming any party, Samsuri said interpretations regarding PN’s status, position and direction could not be made unilaterally.
“Any interpretation regarding the status, position or direction of PN cannot be made unilaterally. Such matters must be referred to PN’s constitution and decided through the coalition’s official channels,” he said.
He added that his priority was to ensure PN continued to be managed in an orderly, principled and responsible manner in the interest of the people and the country.
The latest statement appears to be the clearest response yet from the PAS leader since Muhyiddin declared that Bersatu would remain within PN despite PAS’ decision to sever political ties with its ally.
The relationship between PAS and Bersatu has deteriorated in recent months following a series of disputes within the opposition coalition, including tensions stemming from political developments in Perlis and a wider leadership struggle within Bersatu.
Samsuri assumed the coalition chairmanship earlier this year after Muhyiddin stepped down from the post, marking the first time PAS took the coalition’s top leadership role since PN’s formation.
