Friday, February 8, 2013

Will Razaleigh replace Anwar?

ALLAH ISSUE': Anwar has fallen out of favour with Pas, says MP

KUALA LUMPUR: TALKS about Pas enticing Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to lead the opposition pact together with DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat have emerged again following a recent spat between Pas' powerful Syura Council and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Independent Bayan Baru member of parliament Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said Pas had rejected Anwar as the leader of the pact following the recent controversy involving the use of the word "Allah", which was reignited by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Zahrain, who is formerly Penang PKR chief, said he was reliably informed that Anwar had fallen out of favour with Pas Syura Council members after he supported DAP's stand on allowing the use of the word "Allah" among non-Muslims.

"Pas leaders are anxious to appease their grassroots supporters who are angry with Anwar over the 'Allah' issue and that was why I was told that (Pas spiritual leader Datuk) Nik (Abdul) Aziz (Nik Mat) had floated the idea of getting Ku Li as the pact's alternative leader when he met (DAP national chairman) Karpal (Singh) at his house recently.

"Since Karpal had denied that the 'Allah' issue was discussed at the meeting, I would like to know if the information I received that the two leaders discussed the possibility of Ku Li replacing Anwar is true."

Razaleigh, who is Gua Musang MP and a veteran Umno leader, had several times been linked to opposition parties, in particular Pas. Razaleigh had denied such talks as rumours in the past.

Zahrain said he was also informed that Pas' recommendation that Razaleigh be appointed the opposition leader was a compromise as the party had accepted the fact that Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang would not be accepted by DAP to fill the post. Pas had, in its last muktamar in Kota Baru, proposed Hadi to be the prime minister if the opposition pact wrested control of the Federal Government.

 Will Razaleigh replace Anwar?' - Politics - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/politics/will-razaleigh-replace-anwar-1.215010#ixzz2KI4DQkwQ

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