No major rift between Pas, Bersatu - Samsuri
"For me, these are normal things that we can address and strengthen the consensus within PN."
KUALA TERENGGANU - Pas vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar does not deny that the relationship within Perikatan Nasional (PN), particularly between Pas and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), needs more focus for a closer understanding moving forward.
However, Samsuri said that so far, nothing serious has occurred that would jeopardise the cooperation between component parties in PN.
"I believe in any organisation, even within our families, there will be issues or matters that require adjustments in terms of understanding (to strengthen cooperation).
"I don’t want to be in a situation where I deny this... claiming that everything is perfect because no one is perfect in any organisation.
"But actually, there’s nothing serious that we can’t handle... for me, these are normal things that we can address and strengthen the consensus within PN," he said.
He said this when reporters asked about rumours of a strained relationship within PN, which allegedly contributed to the severe loss in the Mahkota by-election in Johor last Saturday.
Elaborating further, Samsuri said that every by-election held did not reflect the true strength of any party, nor did it fully represent the voice of grassroots voters.
"Even before the 2018 General Election, Barisan Nasional (BN) won big in two by-elections but lost (power) in the general election. So, it proves that by-elections are not the true measure of strength," he explained.
Previously, Sinar Harian reported that internal crises between Pas and Bersatu were among the reasons PN suffered a severe loss by more than 20,000 votes to BN in the Mahkota State Assembly by-election in Johor last Saturday.
Ilham Centre's Chief Researcher Associate Professor Dr Mohd Yusri Ibrahim said that this was evident when Pas leaders appeared less enthusiastic about assisting PN’s candidate’s campaign during this by-election.
In the Mahkota by-election, BN candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah won with a majority of 20,648 votes, defeating PN candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar.
Overall, the Umno Kluang Youth Chief garnered 27,995 votes, while Haizan secured 7,347 votes.
