Tun Faisal: Bersatu stayed away from PN seat talks over legal implications

MELAKA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) did not attend Perikatan Nasional's (PN) seat talks because participating would carry severe legal implications and validate constitutional violations committed by Pas, the party said.

Bersatu information chief Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said the party's absence from the meeting, which Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man raised, was an intentional, principled decision officially communicated by Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

He was responding to Tuan Ibrahim, who claimed Bersatu skipped PN's seat negotiations before fielding candidates against the coalition while still claiming to be an ally.

When contacted, Tun Faisal said attending would create a misleading impression that Pas had committed no wrongdoing, effectively endorsing decisions made in breach of the coalition's constitution.

"If we attended, it would carry the legal implication that we endorse Pas's past actions as not being wrong. We lodged a complaint, and the Registrar of Societies (RoS) already meted out a punishment.

"The court did not declare that they were innocent; the court merely stayed the punishment pending a review. Attending would make it seem as though nothing happened and as if we are endorsing it," he said.

Tun Faisal also accused Pas of showing no remorse or willingness to rectify its actions, and of running PN arbitrarily since it took control of the coalition's administration from Bersatu.

"From day one, Pas has administered Perikatan Nasional in a manner that is unfair, defies procedure, breaches the constitution, and sidelines the Supreme Council.

"Decisions made during the Supreme Council meetings were unilaterally breached by the Pas president. In Negri Sembilan, it reached a level of oppression by denying Bersatu its legitimate rights as a component member of PN.

"We took this to the RoS because we demand justice. Those who committed violations must face consequences, and the situation inside PN must be set right," Tun Faisal added.