ALOR STAR: Kedah Umno has challenged Perikatan Nasional (PN) and opposition leaders to provide clarification on Rembia assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis being announced as a Pas member yesterday.
Kedah Umno information chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin singled out PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin in the challenge.
Shaiful challenged them to explain their position, where they previously opposed a special clause in the anti-party hopping act.
"In truth, the opposition is trapped by the 'scheme of things' planned from the start, beginning with efforts to secure a backdoor agreement immediately after the last General Election, exploiting existing legal loopholes.
"Kedah Umno challenges the PN chairman and opposition leader to clarify their stance on opposing the special clause in the anti-party hopping act during earlier parliamentary discussions and debates," he said in a statement today.
Shaiful criticised the move executed by Pas, calling it the highest form of hypocrisy by "religious opportunists" for maximum political gain.
"I am deeply disappointed to see Pas' so-called 'religious scholars' jubilantly celebrating while congratulating each other, showcasing the highest hypocrisy in their Malay-Islamic politics," he added.
Commenting further, Shaiful extended Kedah Umno's request that the federal government promptly end political turmoil that is not in the people's interest.
"The people are tired and fed up with this political acrobatics, which will undoubtedly burden the public. Repeated by-elections will disrupt the government's agenda to bring the country back on track," he added.
Yesterday, Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, announced that Jailani had officially joined Pas.
Takiyuddin said Jailani became a member of the party in June last year, after an application made by the latter on June 10.
He said Jailani's membership in Pas would not impact his status as an assemblyman because the Melaka Legislative Assembly had yet to implement any anti-party-hopping laws when Jailani joined the party.