Opposition party PAS today slammed Umno for questioning the royalty’s decisions on the appointment of the menteris besar in Terengganu and Perlis.

salahuddin ayub and pas PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub said Umno is showing its true colours by openly challenging the decision of the Sultan of Terengganu and Raja of Perlis to appoint their chosen candidates to the post.

Umno, he said, is being hypocritical now, after having preached the concept of Malay supremacy since independence.

“They call themselves fighters for Malay rights but, at the same time, they are challenging the Malay Rulers by holding gatherings and displaying banners and slogans. This should not happen,” he told a press conference at PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

abdullah ahmad badawi and idris jusoh and ahmad said and terengganu He also questioned why Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has not proposed an alternative nominee for menteri besar, since it is clear that the Sultan of Terengganu has no confidence in incumbent Idris Jusoh.

“Why didn’t (Abdullah) propose a few other names? Why does he still want Idris Jusoh? The PM can propose any candidate, but he has opted to go against the system.

“To me, (the naming of the Sultan’s choice) is constitutional.” he said, countering Abdullah’s previous claim that the royal intervention is unconstitutional.

Saying that PAS believes that the monarchy plays an important role in preserving democratic processes, Salahuddin pledged continued support for a system that has been in place since Independence.

Corruption alleged

He further advised Umno members to behave like ‘gentlemen’ in handling the political crisis in Terengganu and not to resort to any action that could disrupt the peace, pointing out that PAS has experienced more unfairness from the government.

Referring to the situations in Perlis and Terengganu, he said these are clear indications that the Malay Rulers want someone clean and trustworthy to lead their respective states.

Salahuddin alleged that Idris had been “corrupt and misused his power” during his tenure as menteri besar.

“It is an open secret, even the orang kampung know the real Idris Jusoh. You just wait and see - we will reveal all the information at the next Parliament session,” he said.

pas youth pc 250308 salahuddin ayub During the press conference, he also showed a photograph of a banner with the words Kami Nak Idris, Natang - the banners have been found in strategic places in the state.

Youth secretary Ahmad Sabki Yusof said it is not clear whether natang - which means ‘animal’ in the Terengganu dialect - was directed at the Sultan or at new Menteri Besar Ahmad Said.

But he noted that the words are open to “all kinds of interpretation”.

Salahuddin said the Youth wing would lodge a police report this evening, adding “this is seditious, immediate action must be taken”.