The Malaysian Insight

PAKATAN Harapan’s decision to nominate Amanah leader Husam Musa to contest for PKR in the Pasir Mas parliamentary seat has widened the conflict among the coalition in Kelantan, said Amanah and PKR grassroots leaders.

Husam’s candidacy disappointed Amanah members in Kelantan and was not liked by some state PKR leaders, they said.

An Amanah grassroots leader told The Malaysian Insight that the internal division is visible in the party machinery, which is divided into two – one that is aligned to Husam and one that is not.

“It’s true that outsiders cannot see it, but the rift is visible.”

“Husam’s group is Husam’s group, the other group does not help. We don’t work together,” said a man who declined to be named.

According to the source, Husam’s allies consist of Kota Bharu parliamentary candidate, Hafidzah Mustakim, Kuala Krai’s Mohd Hisyamuddin Ghazali, Kubang Kerian’s Wan Ahmad Kamil Wan Abdullah, and Rantau Panjang candidate, Wan Shah Jihan Wan Din.

He said, Husam group “was clear” on the day Amanah Kelantan announced the party’s candidates who would contest in the GE.

“Husam announced the candidates’ aligned to him on Facebook even though the Amanah chairman had not made any statement.”

“As for the other candidates who were not on the same team as him, he did not mention their names,” he said.

PH did not win a single parliamentary seat in GE14, in this GE these were the same candidates who lost in Kelantan back in 2018, in addition to the 38 candidates for state seats including independent candidates.

PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim, who is also PKR president, refuted claims Husam who is contesting under the PKR banner is causing internal conflict within the coalition.

Husam resigned as Amanah vice-president and PH Kelantan chairman in September 2020. He said he was focusing on winning a seat for Amanah in Kelantan, especially in Kota Bharu, an area he led.

He then led the Save Kelantan movement, which has been exposing the various shortcomings of the PAS led state government for more than three decades.

Amanah Kelantan however distanced itself from the Husam-led Save Kelantan movement. State party leaders insist they are not involved with the group.

The source added that Husam’s involvement with Save Kelantan, which is seen as turning his back on Amanah, is one of the reasons why he was not nominated by the party to contest in the general election.

“His Save Kelantan movement is seen as trying to go beyond the state’s Amanah leadership and he once said do not vote for an Amanah candidate if there is someone better.”

“That statement has caused displeasure amongst Amanah and our circle,” he stressed.

Other than Husam, PKR also nominated Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz as PH candidate in Pasir Salak, Perak.

Still an Amanah member

Another grassroots leader said Husam is still a member of Amanah but is competing under the PKR ticket.

The leader, who also did not want to be named, said Husam’s membership status will be decided by the leadership after GE15.

“Husam is still a member, he has not yet joined PKR as well as Nik Omar.”

“The party decided that it is not appropriate to discuss the matter now, it will be decided after the GE,” he said.

The source explained that before the Johor state election earlier this year, PH made the decision not to allow members to swap parties in the coalition except with the approval of the coalition’s leadership.

PKR grassroots leaders are also unhappy with Husam’s actions. They claimed that Husam used his relationship with Anwar to contest a seat in Pasir Mas.

He said PKR Kelantan had chosen Dr. Rosli Allani S. Abdul Khadir to compete in Pasir Mas but he was moved to compete in Machang to accommodate Husam.

However, the source did not deny that Husam’s strong influence was able to attract voter support to PH.

“We cannot deny his aura, everyone admits that Husam has his own influence that can contribute to a victory in Pasir Mas, Husam’s influence is quite strong.”

“Maybe this is seen by the president, even though we don’t like it but we have to agree,” he said.

Husam is contesting against PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaary who is contesting under Perikatan Nasional along with Barisan Nasional candidate Ab Ghani Harun and Gerakan Tanah Air Nasrul Ali Hasan Abdul Latif.

In GE14, Ahmad Fadhli won 53% of the vote, winning with a majority of 13,075 votes (24%) over his nearest rival, BN candidate Nor Azmawi Ab Rahman. Two more candidates, including a PH candidate, lost their deposit in Pasir Mas. – November 15, 2022.