Taking a swipe at Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub who expressed regret over its coalition partner accepting the assemblymen into its fold, PKR Youth secretary Syukri Razab said the leader seems confused about his political alignment.
“Salahuddin was seen to be so affected when PKR accepted the three ex-Amanah men that he accused PKR of disrespecting the PH spirit.
“What about Salahuddin’s own stance? He remains close with the group (Pejuang) that did not want to be in PH and even openly attacked the PKR president,” he said in a direct reference to Salahuddin’s links with Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He urged Salahuddin to do some “self-reflection” and break away from the attitude of his former party (PAS) which he said practised two-faced politics.
Syukri said Salahuddin should instead be thankful that PKR had offered an alternative platform for the three assemblymen to remain with PH.
“Does he want PKR to reject the three assemblymen and leave them to freeze in Amanah when their hearts are no longer with the party?”
Mahathir’s faction of Pejuang MPs are not officially a part of PH or Perikatan Nasional, while the former prime minister has continued to criticise Anwar Ibrahim.
Syukri claimed that Amanah members were being unsettled by leaders choosing to be friendly with Mahathir while being in PH, adding that this might be why more members had been leaving the party for PKR.
“This might be why they are moving to PKR, which is seen to be clearer and stronger in its principles.”
It was reported yesterday that three Johor Amanah assemblymen had decided to leave the party to join PKR. Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said this would not affect ties within PH or between the two parties.
One of them had been quoted as saying they left the party for PKR as they wanted to contest in parliamentary seats.
Earlier today, Amanah’s Bukit Bintang division urged the party leadership to review its cooperation with PKR and its position in the coalition, saying the assemblymen’s exit put a strain on the relationship among PH component parties.