Kedah Bersatu chief says ‘all is well’ with PAS after its three partymen sworn in as excos

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 — The tense situation between PAS and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in the Kedah Perikatan Nasional (PN) regarding the allocation of the state executive councillor posts have been cleared up.

Kedah Bersatu chief Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah said the party has accepted the fewer number of state executive councillor posts compared to the previous term and that there is no longer a dispute, news portal Free Malaysia Today reported last night.

“All is well. All (appointed) excos have been sworn in, so this puts an end to the issue,” he was quoted as saying after three Bersatu assemblymen took their oath office before Kedah’s Sultan Sallehuddin Badlishah yesterday.

The trio, Bukit Kayu Hitam assemblyman Halimaton Shaadiah Saad, Suka Menanti’s Dwozahir Ab Ghani and Kubang Rotan’s Salleh Saidin, joined the new state government line-up led by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor from PAS.

Berita Harian previously reported unnamed sources claiming that Kedah Bersatu leaders were dissatisfied at getting only three posts for state executive councillors compared to five during Sanusi’s first term as menteri besar.

In the new Kedah exco, PAS holds the lion’s share with seven posts, including Sanusi. Gerakan, which won its only seat in Kulim, got one exco post.

Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal told the news portal that the appointment of every state executive councillor for PN-led states is done by consensus of all component parties.

He denied that Kedah Bersatu leaders were unhappy with being given only three executive councillor posts.

In the August 12 Kedah election, PN formed the state government after securing 33 of the 36 state assembly seats.

Islamist party PAS dominated the state polls with 22 seats, while Bersatu won 10 and Gerakan one.