PAS member clarifies WhatsApp message

PAS Central Committee member Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki on Friday clarified a printscreen of his controversial WhatsApp message where he discussed on possible scenarios, should the party leave the Pakatan Rakyat.

He said the message merely indicated a scenario on words that could be uttered by some PAS members who were unsatisfied with DAP over issues revolving the use of the word "Allah" and raids at church organisations.

As such, he said, his message merely represented the views of several PAS members who had wanted out of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, and not his own decision or opinion.

"If I could reveal the entire message, I'm sure many would understand what I mean.

"However, I'm bound not to speak of anything discussed in the WhatsApp group although someone had revealed the printscreen to the public," he said in a statement.

Mohd Zuhdi is said to have discussed in a leaked conversation on a WhatsApp network for PAS Central Committee leaders a possibility of the party working with Umno in Selangor while retaining Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim of PKR as menteri besar.

He noted that his message could have been misinterpreted by certain quarters for their own personal agenda.

"The reason of the whistleblower (who leaked out the printscreen) is to force PAS (president) Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to take action against me as I was against the 'Kajang Move'," he said.

Various opinions have been raised by leaders of PKR, PAS and DAP, partners of Pakatan Rakyat, following a PKR decision to replace Abdul Khalid with PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as Selangor menteri besar.

In an immediate response, Gerakan vice-president Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai said in a statement that the leaked WhatsApp message caused the greatest offence to all Malaysians.

He said Gerakan and Barisan Nasional fully opposed any possibility of a cooperation between PAS and Umno as the purported collaboration was none other than political expediency and power monopoly.

"Not a chance for a collaboration under such circumstances, and we are against such a move by all means as it is an affront to public interest," said Lau, adding that the Pakatan Rakyat leadership should resolve the ongoing Selangor menteri besar crisis amicably.