Perlis MB's defeat in party polls exposes rift within Pas, says Mahfuz

New Straits Times

23-06-2025

ALOR STAR: Perlis Menteri Besar Shukri Ramli's defeat in his bid to wrest the Arau Pas chief post in the party's election proves that the party's grassroots has lost faith in the state leadership.
Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said the outcome of the Arau and Padang Besar Pas elections signalled more than just the rejection of one leader, but it was also a damning verdict from the party's rank-and-file.
"This is not just about the defeat of an individual or his team. It is also a clear sign that the party's grassroots no longer have confidence in the leadership of Pas and the Perlis state government under Shukri," he said in a statement today.
Mahfuz, who was once a Pas vice-president, added that the internal rift has grown too glaring to ignore and warned that the prolonged power struggle was robbing Perlis people of a stable and decisive administration.
"The people of Perlis are watching this crisis unfold. The top Pas leadership remains silent and has failed to take any constructive action, even though criticisms of the Menteri Besar's weaknesses have been raised repeatedly, including at Pas' own Muktamar," he said.
Mahfuz took a swipe at Pas Youth for its selective activism, questioning why there were no calls for a "Turun Shukri" rally when the same group was eager to stage protests demanding Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's resignation.
"The question now is on how long will Pas leaders ignore the voice and concerns of their own grassroots? How long must the people of Perlis suffer in this drawn-out internal feud?
He cautioned that the state government's credibility was crumbling amid inconsistent decision-making and a glaring lack of direction, leaving the people in limbo.
"Political stability is the bedrock of the people's well-being. When the ruling party fails to manage its own conflicts, the people pay the price," he said.
Mahfuz urged Pas to stop politicking among themselves and start listening to the rakyat and party members.
"If they can no longer lead with integrity and fairness, they should step aside and return the mandate to the people. The people of Perlis deserve leadership that is stable, caring and accountable," he said.
In an unexpected outcome during the party's election, Shukri, was unsuccessful in his attempt to unseat the incumbent Arau Pas chief Solahudin Azmi.
Shukri only collected 43 votes, trailing far behind Solahudin who managed 128 votes.