ALOR STAR: Kedah Pas today wished its former vice president Datuk Mahfuz Omar all the best, hours after the Pokok Sena member of Parliament announced he is leaving the party effective midnight.
Although Mahfuz's move had been anticipated by the party leadership, Kedah Pas commissioner Dr Ahmad Fakhruddin Fahrurazi reminded the former on his bai'ah (swear of loyalty) to the party when contesting for the seat in 2013 under Pas' ticket.
Ahmad reminded Mahfuz and the other Pas leaders who had left the party not to forget their bai'ah to the party when they decided not to step down as elected representatives despite abandoning Pas.
"Hence, as a Muslim, it is a duty to hold true to a promise, as the Malay proverb "Kerbau berpegang kepada tali, manusia berpegang kepada janji' (a buffalo is held by its rope, humans are tied to their promise"," he said in a statement this evening.
Ahmad said Mahfuz's move was not surprising and was even anticipated by the party following his spate of statements which contradicted with Pas leadership's stands and decisions.
"Although Mahfuz had once held the Pas Kedah Commissioner post and led the Pokok Sena Pas division for significant period of time, his decision to leave the party will not influence other Pas members who remain steadfast to the party’s struggle.
"As far as Kedah Pas is concern, our focus is to spread the awareness on the political culture based on Islamic teachings and to strengthen the party machinery to face the next general election while promoting "Matured Peaceful Political Culture" approach to our multi-racial community," he said.
It was reported that the under the 'bai'ah', Pas leaders who contested under the party ticket in the previous general election were made to sign a pledge that they would divorce their spouse should they leave the party while still holding a position as an elected rep.
However, Mahfuz, when announcing his decision to quit the party early today, dismissed the matter, saying that the issue did not arise.
Earlier today, Mahfuz finally announced his decision to quit the Islamic party effective midnight, after much of speculations following his fall-out with the party's ulama leadership.
His close relationship with Pakatan Harapan component parties, in particular Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) has led him to be branded as part of the 'harumanis group' by the Islamic party.
Mahfuz however, denied that he is joining the Umno splinter party anytime soon, although rumours are circulating that he was offered a post in PPBM.
He claimed that he decided to quit Pas, after 34 years with the party, following his failure to get the party to collaborate with Pakatan Harapan in the past two years.
Mahfuz is the second Pas elected rep in Kedah which left the party in recent time after Kedah state Legislative Assembly Opposition leader, Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah abandoned Pas to cross over to PPBM.
The Pas' Anak Bukit assemblyman had said he decided to leave Pas following the Islamic party refusal to work with Pakatan Harapan pact.
Mahfuz and Amiruddin decision confirmed earlier rumours which had been brewing since last year that Pas ‘harumanis’ leaders were leaving the party.
In October, Mahfuz and Amiruddin, together with Pas Kubang Rotan assemblyman Mohd Nasir Mustafa, created a buzz when they attended the Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) national convention held at a hotel here.
This had prompted Pas top leaders to announce that elected representatives from the party who support Pakatan Harapan would likely to be dropped as candidates in GE14.
Nasir, however, denied that he was following Amiruddin's footsteps and vowed to remain loyal to Pas, while still harbouring hope that Pas will form a pact with Pakatan Harapan.