SHAH ALAM: Selangor Pas is welcoming other opposition political parties that want to unite to face Barisan Nasional in the next general election but reminded these parties that mutual respect was important to make it a success.
Newly-minted Selangor Pas commissioner Sallehen Mukhyi said the Islamist party has always been the one extending its hands to others to form cooperation for the sake of unity.
"However, by doing so, we need to honour each other's promises and respect one another.
"I believe the president (Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang) is open to meeting anyone for unity purposes. I think Datuk Seri Azmin Ali's effort in wanting to see the president to mend ties is good, whether he is doing it in his capacity as a Menteri Besar or PKR deputy president," he said in a press conference at Selangor Pas liaison office in Section 13 tonight.
Sallehen was commenting on Azmin's intention of meeting Hadi following Pas' motion to sever ties with PKR in the recent muktamar.
Sallehen also announced Mohd Haslin Hassan and Mohd Zamri Zainuldin as his second and third deputy commissioners, replacing Shafie Ngah and Ahmad Dusuki Md Rani.
Sallehen added that they are unfazed by the repeated calls by its splinter party, Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) for three of the Islamist party excos to leave the state administration led by PKR.
Such pressure have been mounted since PAN was set up and when DAP severed ties with PAS, he added.
"It is not a day or two that PAN has been pushing for a reshuffle. It looks like they are impatient to be excos. But we stand firm as we want to fulfill the wishes of the people which wants Pas to remain in the state government.
"Even the Menteri Besar had stated the need for Pas to be in the state government and to strengthen it. We will continue to stay and assist the state government.
"The excos will have to be strong because PAN is living on perception and slander is their 'daily food'," said Sallehen.
Sallehen, who is also Sabak assemblyman, said they will remain with the Selangor state government because they were chosen and mandated by the people.
The motion to break ties with PKR at the national level was different from the involvement of Pas in the state government, he said.
The final decision whether to sever political cooperation with PKR lies in the hands of Pas' Syura Council, he added.
"However, whether the tahaluf siasi will be cut or otherwise, Pas will stay in the state government. It will only change once the mandate is up through the announcement of dissolution of the state assembly. Our day to day business is uninterrupted. We are still serving the state government even though we are not with DAP. We are comfortable (with the arrangement)," said Sallehen.