The crossing-over of a group of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members in Kelantan to PAS will not weaken the former's performance in the state, said PKR Youth chief Zamakh Sari today.

He said the move involved only about 10 people who had personal grievances with the party and its principles.

PKR and PAS are members of the opposition front known as Barisan Alternatif.

According to a news report, former Kelantan PKR liaison committee Muhammad Mustafa, his deputy Nik Mohd Yussof Nik Ismail, liaison committee secretary Mohd Soba Hussin, information chief Baharuddin Setapa and deputy youth chief Aminudin Hamid were among those who joined PAS.

"Those who left for PAS were mainly from the party's Kota Baru and Keterah division who had resigned from their respective posts earlier this year.

"We had no difficulty in finding candidates to replace them," said Zamakh when contacted.

He said most of them who left could not accept PKR's policies as a multi-racial party.

"They had always been more inclined towards PAS. I believe they are just looking for a new political platform," he added.

New members

Zamakh also denied that the cross-over reflected the party's waning influence in the state. He claimed that PKR has since received 500 new membership applications.

"To prove that PKR is still relevant in Kelantan we will conduct a ceramah (talk) in Kota Baru on Aug 28 where all 500 applicants would officially submit their application forms. The addition means that the party would have as many as 14 new branches in Kubang Kerian alone," he said.

He also stressed that PKR Kelantan's new leadership under Nik Mahmood Nik Hassan is also determined not let the cross over dampen their relationship with PAS.

"Our goals are still very much the same and would not hesitate to help them in any way in the future. Even if I have to work with my former colleagues, we would remain professional and true to the spirit of the partnership in BA," he added.

Commenting on the matter, PKR vice-president Tian Chua said there would be no bad blood between the two parties as a result of the cross over.

"I believe that those who left honestly believe that PAS suits them better which was why they resigned from their respective posts much earlier. It's their decision and we have to respect it," he said when contacted.

Not surprised

He said the party was not surprised as the former members had previously complained that PKR was not being supportive of PAS' Islamic agenda.

"They were also unhappy that we did not take their advice to present candidates with stronger religious backgrounds in Kelantan (during the March 21 polls)," he added.

Tian Chua explained that PKR could not heed their advice as it contradicted the party's policies and image.

"PKR is a multi-racial party and we need a state leadership that portrays that. We have discussed this time and again and I don't think PAS has had any problem understanding this as they know there is a need to distinguish our with that of PAS so that we can infiltrate the market that PAS is not able to," he said.

Like Zamakh, Tian also believed that Nik Mahmood would be able to lead the party better than the previous state leader.