‘Hadi more qualified to be PM’

‘Hadi more qualified to be PM’

IPOH: PAS Dewan Ulama wants party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to become the prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat succeeds in forming the new Federal Government by Sept 16.

Dewan Ulama head Datuk Mohamed Daud said the party’s stand is that whoever becomes the next prime minister should benefit Islam.

“If it benefits Islam, we will lend our support,” he told reporters yesterday after opening the Dewan Ulama assembly here.

He said Hadi was more qualified to become the prime minister but conceded that it was not up to the Dewan Ulama to determine the nation's premier.

“The party’s presidential council will make a decision and discuss it with the other component parties,” he added, noting that this was also done during the appointment of the Perak Mentri Besar.

At the PAS Muslimat (women’s wing) 49th annual assembly in Hill City Hotel, its chief Nuridah Mohd Salleh said the wing was aware that PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would most probably be the prime minister if Pakatan takes over federal power.

“This issue has been mentioned many times and PAS has already made an early observation on the matter.

“After all, it is normal that the party with the most number of representatives gets the post of prime minister,” she said during a press conference after the opening of the assembly.

Nuridah, however, declined to say if the wing would accept Anwar as the new prime minister but added that the matter would be decided amongst the member parties in the Pakatan.

On reports of Hadi’s statement that PAS may consider abandoning Pakatan Rakyat if Islam was not given priority in the new administration, Nuridah said: “This has always been our party’s emphasis and it is enshrined in our party constitution.

“Hadi was saying this to ensure that no one, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, would take Islam lightly,” she said.

“Even Anwar himself knows of our principles, so I hope that this matter can be settled within the coalition.”

Nuridah added that the wing would be sending a delegation headed by its deputy chief Wan Hasrina Wan Hassan for the Permatang Pauh by-election nomination.

“We have also decided to give our full commitment to campaign together with our coalition partners during the 10-day campaign period,” she said

kzso - the plot thickens