The Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) faction in Keadilan may quit the party if their presence is no longer welcome and are seen as 'troublemakers', said the movement's president Ahmad Azam Abdul Rahman today.

"They (the Abim members) have informed me of their intention to quit the party but I told them to stay put until we decide on the next course of action," he added.

Even Abim's alignment with Keadilan will have to be reconsidered after the 'ferocious attacks' levelled against the Abim faction by other factions within the party, stressed Ahmad.

The Abim and non-Abim factionalism in the party was widespread and erupted during the Keadilan annual general meeting early this month which also saw the party's inaugural elections.

Certain factions had labelled the Abim faction as "power-hungry individuals who wanted to take control of Keadilan".

Ahmad said Abim members were "almost totally rejected" because they did not support the proposed Keadilan-PRM merger and Abim itself was subjected to heavy criticism.

The proposed merger has been agreed in principle by delegates from both parties which had separate meetings to vote on this matter.

However, the merger is put on hold following Keadilan's failure to obtain the required two-third majority to amend its constitution. The party is expected to call for a special meeting for a vote on this matter later next year.

'No future'

"I think we should consider everything. The wall is too thick to penetrate now. And based on their (non-Abim faction) response in the media, I don't see a future for Abim members in Keadilan," he told malaysiakini.

According to the Abim leader, the ball is now in Keadilan's court. "If they are still arrogant and not magnanimous, I think everyone can predict the next course of action".

Following the AGM, four Abim-linked members were offered places in the supreme council by party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

However, the quartet - Mohd Anuar Tahir, Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty, Ruslan Kassim and Mustafa Kamil Ayub - rejected the offer.

"When the four former Abim members turned down the appointments as supreme council members, it was made in a good faith in order to give the newly elected leaders the opportunity to lead the party into a brighter future

It also helps to prove that they (Abim faction) are not power greedy. And I personally support their decision," said Ahmad.

He also revealed that he turned down an invitation to discuss the current situation with Keadilan leaders.

"I refused because the moment I am seen with Wan Azizah, it could be interpreted as interfering in Keadilan affairs. I do not want to be dragged into this mess.

"I don't want to influence them because I still want Abim to maintain its non-partisanship," he said.

However, he said, a thorough analysis of the events before and after the Keadilan elections will be conducted.

"Unless and until the new party leadership is prepared to accept the reality there are factions in Keadilan, it will be difficult to mend the strained relationship between Abim members and other factions in the party," he said.

Ahmad said Keadilan is very close to the heart of Abim members because the movement was the prime mover in the formation of the party.

"Abim was the first to organise the reformasi campaign after the dismissal of Anwar Ibrahim (jailed ex-deputy premier), the formation of Adil and eventually Keadilan, when most of the present party leaders were abroad," he said.