Lau said Takiyuddin and Samsuri approached him to apologise and told him the remarks made were the personal opinions of the delegates and did not represent the party leadership’s views.

“They said the remarks came from some loose cannons in the party and asked me not to take it personally. I’ve accepted their apologies,” he said at a press conference after the Selangor Gerakan annual general meeting here today.

A PAS ulama delegate initially questioned Lau’s ability to serve as chairman of Penang Perikatan Nasional.

Lau rebuffed the criticism, saying Gerakan was actively serving as a check and balance to the DAP-led state government, despite not holding a seat in the state assembly.

Later, another PAS delegate ramped up criticism of Lau’s alleged lack of leadership, accusing the Gerakan president of failing to properly engage the coalition’s 11 assemblymen in Penang.

This is not the first time that the PAS leadership has had to apologise to Lau.

While campaigning for the Penang state polls in August 2023, Lau was barred from attending a PN ceramah organised by PAS. It was believed to be in protest by some members of the Islamic party over his candidacy for the Bayan Lepas seat.

Takiyuddin apologised over the debacle, saying Lau should have been accepted and treated as a guest, in accordance with Islamic principles.

Sanusi unlikely referring to Gerakan

Separately, Lau brushed off PAS election director Sanusi Nor’s criticism of PN allies purportedly relying on his party’s election funds and machinery.

He expressed doubt that Sanusi was referring to Gerakan, while Lau’s deputy Oh Tong Keong said the Kedah menteri besar later claimed his remark was just a “joke to spice things up” at the muktamar.

On PAS’s resolution to lead PN and put forward a prime minister candidate, Lau said these matters will be discussed in the coalition’s upcoming Supreme Council meeting.