The statement signed by all 23 PAS MPs and three Senators stated they would continue to carry out the people’s trust given in Election 2008 to bring changes and reforms over injustice, poverty and discriminatory human rights to a government founded on religious and moral principles.
It also came about after Anwar, who is de facto PKR and the Pakatan Rakyat opposition pact, tweeted that he had no issues with DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang taking over as Opposition Leader if more PKR lawmakers walk out of his party.
PKR now has 29 MPs after Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim (Bayan Baru) and Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal) quit in the past two weeks.
“We regret the action taken by several Pakatan Rakyat MPs who have chosen to abandon the principles of our struggles,” the PAS statement said.
The MPs who signed were Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (Marang) (picture, left), Ustaz Nasharudin Mat Isa (Bachok), Salahuddin Ayub (Kubang Kerian), Datuk’ Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena) (picture, centre), Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman (Pengkalan Chepa), Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli (Kuala Krai), Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar (Tumpat), Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohd Ghazali (Titiwangsa), Puan Siti Zailah Mohd
Yusof (Rantau Panjang), Dr Siti Mariah Mahmood (Kota Raja), Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor), Ustaz Taib Azamuddin Md Taib (Baling), Dr Che Rosli Che Mat (Hulu Langat), Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin (Bukit Gantang), Datuk’ Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah (Kota Bharu), Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut (Kuala Terengganu), Ustaz Muhammad Husin (Pasir Puteh), Khalid Samad (Shah Alam), Che Uda Che Nik (Sik), Ustaz Firdaus Jaafar (Jerai), Ustaz Mohd Nasir Zakaria (Padang Terap), Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Parit Buntar) and Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman (Pendang)
The three Senators who signed the statement were Muhammad Yusof Husin (Kedah), Ahmad Rosli Ibrahim (Kelantan) and Mumtaz Md Nawi (Kelantan).
“We are confident of the struggles and leadership of the Pakatan Rakyat parties and will further our efforts among the people and in the Dewan Rakyat which starts March 15,” the statement added.
The PAS lawmakers also took the opportunity to ask the people oppose the ruling Barisan Nasional government’s new proposals to raise petrol prices and essential goods apart from the proposed Good and Services Tax (GST).
“We also want to state our full support to the leadership of the Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” they said.
There has been speculation that Anwar would be asked to resign as opposition leader in the parliament if more PKR lawmakers quit but both PAS and DAP leaders have privately assured him they preferred he remain in the post.
Anwar, who is facing a second sodomy charge in a decade, has said he was prepared to give way to other leaders.
“Opposn Leader:no problem for ybKit to tak over fr me. We work as a team unlike Umno!” Anwar tweeted in his Twitter microblogging website last night, referring to the Ipoh Timur MP, and using short forms common in tweets.
The Pakatan Rakyat now has 80 MPs in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat against Barisan Nasional’s 137. There are now three Independent MPs and two from SAPP, which quit the ruling coalition in September 2008.
Former PKR secretary-general Datuk Salehuddin Hashim has speculated that up to 10 lawmakers will quit the party in coming weeks, adding they will remain independent and not support Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat.
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