No serious issues between PAS and Bersatu - Samsuri

There is no serious issue between Perikatan Nasional parties PAS and Bersatu, said PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

He told Sinar Harian that nothing significant has happened so far that could affect the cooperative relationship between the component parties in the PN

However, he did not deny that the relationship needed to be given more focus for a closer understanding to develop.

"I think in any organisation, even within a family, there will be issues that need adjustment in terms of understanding (closer cooperation).

"I don't want to be in the position of (denying) that... we cannot say we are all perfect because no one is perfect in any organisation.

"But actually, there is no serious matter that we cannot deal with. For me, it's just normal issues that we can deal with and strengthen the consensus in PN," he said.

He told reporters this when asked about speculation over poor relations in PN which contributed to a heavy defeat in the Mahkota by-election in Johor last Saturday.

True measure of strength

The Terengganu menteri besar also stated that not every by-election represents the true strength of any party nor does it fully represent the voice of the people at the grassroots level.

"Even before the 2018 general election, BN won big in two by-elections but lost (power) in the general election.

"So, it proves that the by-election is not a true measure of strength," he explained.

Previously, Sinar Harian reported that internal differences between PAS and Bersatu were one of the reasons why PN lost in Mahkota, with Ilham Centre's chief researcher Mohd Yusri Ibrahim saying that PAS leaders were seen to be less enthusiastic about engaging the grassroots to help the PN candidate's campaign.

On Saturday, BN’s Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah won the Mahkota by-election by securing 27,795 votes against PN’s Mohamad Haizan Jaafar - who received 7,347 votes.

The by-election was called following the death of the incumbent assemblyperson, Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on Aug 2.

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