PAS cental committee member Khalid Samad believes the upcoming Permatang Pauh by-election would be a test for PAS; whether it is serious about staying in Pakatan Rakyat or otherwise.

The Shah Alam MP also pointed out that the by-election would have an implication in the coming party election.

“I hope all PAS members would understand the importance of the upcoming muktamar. It’s about PAS’ future and the Permatang Pauh by-election will be the witness,” he said.

Khalid, in a series of tweets earlier, had commented on Permatang Pauh PAS and Penang PAS Youth, claiming they were full of “extreme” leaders, being without the leaders of the progressive faction after the 2013 PAS muktamar.

“(Is) the behaviour of Permatang Pauh PAS and Penang PAS Youth the face of ‘PAS Extreme’ after the 2013 muktamar,” tweeted Khalid.

 

“What with all the forcing and threatening approach (seen recently)?”.

Khalid’s tweets appear to be in response to a report that PAS would not help in the by-election if PKR did not retract its statement against Abdul Hadi Awang over the issue of hudud.

Permatang Pauh PAS division chief Omar Hassan yesterday gave an ultimatum to PKR to withdraw its statement not to support PAS’ private member’s bill on hudud if it wanted to continue getting support in the by-election.

Omar said Permatang Pauh PAS also decided to give PKR until the day before nomination on April 25 to do so, and demanded that PKR tender an open apology.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali however said the party had no plans to withdraw its statement against Abdul Hadi on the hudud issue.

With Pakatan or not?

Meanwhile, Khalid queried whether Pakatan Rakyat could survive with such “extreme” PAS leaders who appear equivocal about their support for the opposition coalition.

“Or maybe Pakatan Rakyat is simply not in the PAS Extreme’s agenda?

"They say one thing but do another. They say they want to be in Pakatan, but they continue to fight (the coalition)?” he tweeted.

Khalid, who is said to be among the progressive PAS leaders who favour the Pakatan alliance, have come under attack in a smear campaign ( left ) during the party elections and labelled a "parasite".

The term "parasite" has often been used by certain conservative PAS leaders to attack their own members who show close cooperation with Pakatan allies PKR and DAP.