Sanusi failed to maintain harmony in Pas and PN - Mahfuz

ALOR SETAR - Kedah Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar says Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director-general Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has failed after two former Pas leaders in Langkawi contested as independent candidates in the state election.

He said the harmony boasted by PN previously did not happen as two former Pas leaders on the island did not agree with the candidate choice from Bersatu to represent PN in the Ayer Hangat and Kuah state seats.

"It's not only in Langkawi, but even in Kota Siputeh, the Jerlun Bersatu chief ran as an independent candidate after not being satisfied with the chosen PN candidate.

"It's clear that Sanusi, as the Pas and PN election director-general, has failed to ensure harmony between coalition parties in his own state.

"This shows PN's internal turmoil and Sanusi's failure to negotiate," he said in a press conference at the Alor Mengkudu state assembly PH Election Operations Centre here on Monday.

He said after former Pas leader Mazlan Ahmad contesting in the Kuah state seat and Langkawi Pas youth deputy chief Safwan Hanif Shafie contesting in Ayer Hangat as independent candidates.

Mahfuz said Pas faced internal issues in PN after Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau was named as the Bayan Lepas candidate.

He explained that Sanusi's previous claim that the collaboration between PH and BN would dissolve ahead of the election seat distribution was wrong.

Mahfuz claimed he believed that there are those among the Pas leadership at the central level who give the green light for the Langkawi Pas to contest as independent candidates.

"The (central) party leadership would not take action because if they knew of the punishment, it would invite the anger of party members. So no action was taken or 'strong words' would be issued against the individual who contested in Langkawi under an independent candidate," he said.