PAS assemblyperson Saari Sungib clarified that his presence at PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s press conference last week was not to support her nomination as menteri besar, but to reject the incumbent Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Nevertheless, the Hulu Kelang assemblyperson said he had signed a statutory declaration (SD) pledging support for Wan Azizah (right) because it had been drafted as such beforehand.

“The objective is to refute Khalid’s claim that he has the majority (support of the assemblypersons). The nature of law relating to the SD is like that, which is to withdraw support from Khalid and give it to Wan Azizah.

“For me, Wan Azizah or not, the important thing is we have 30 assemblypersons (who rejected Khalid).
 
"Since DAP and PKR (assemblypersons alone) are not sufficient, I joined in,” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini yesterday.

Saari had previously attended the press conference with another PAS assemblyperson Hasnul Baharuddin (Morib), causing both to be investigated by the party for breaking ranks and taking a stand on the issue before the PAS central committee had met.

'Duo acted in Pakatan's interests'

The party’s syura council, president Abdul Hadi Awang and spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat had previously said they supported Khalid to stay on as MB prior to his expulsion from PKR.
 
At the time they reasoned they had then seen no solid reason to replace him.

Nevertheless the party’s at the central committee meeting on Aug 17, after Khalid's (left) expulsion, agreed to accept Wan Azizah while also nominating PKR deputy president Azmin Ali as an alternative.

PAS reportedly suspended disciplinary action against Saari and Hasnul pending the resolution to solve the crisis in state’s administration.

Meanwhile, PAS central committee member Mujahid Yusof Rawa opined that Saari and Hasnul’s actions were meant to strengthen Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor.  

“I would not say they are right or wrong. I just want to illustrate how difficult it was at the time to make a judgement that would strengthen Pakatan at the state assembly,” he told Malaysiakini.

“But it can’t be considered wrong because the main decision is still with (Pakatan). It’s just that there was no comprehensive approach to how they acted,” he said.


Selangor crisis today

9.14am: DAP Youth leader says columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah must apologise for suggesting Selangor will be 'darul babi' if MB Khalid Ibrahim is removed

9:48am: PAS rep Saari Sungib says he signed the statutory declaration primarily to reject the incumbent MB, but not to support PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as widely perceived

12pm: Sinar Harian speculates that PAS has a good chance of getting MB post, if the ruler rejects Wan Azizah or other PKR reps

12.39pm: PAS exco man Sallehen Mukhyi says president Abdul Hadi Awang didn't discuss PKR's Azmin Ali as MB, with sultan in July 31 meeting

2.55pm: MB crisis will hurt Pakatan in polls, but win expected, says DAP's Bukit Gasing rep

3.34pm: Selangor PAS reiterates that they are not interested in the MB post as it belongs to PKR

4.29pm: MB's lawyer denies claim by his aide that his debt was settled via a Middle Eastern bank, PAS MP Khalid Samad says

5.15pm: Sources close to MB says dissolution of the assembly will be one of the options put forth to the sultan