PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali has denied claims that PAS is rejecting PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as Selangor menteri besar because she is a woman.
Asked if this was the reason, he said: "No, no, not because of gender."
“We have informed PKR (of our reasons to reject) but it is not on gender. I won’t disclose (the reasons),” he said.
He said this when met after the PAS political bureau meeting at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur tonight.
It was heavily speculated that the Islamic party is rejecting Wan Azizah because of her gender.
Malaysiakini earlier reported that the meeting tonight would discuss the Wan Azizah's capability as replacement MB and possible alternative candidates.
Wan Azizah is PKR's sole candidate to replace incumbent Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, who was sacked from PKR on Saturday.
Below is the transcript of the press conference with Mustafa:
Reporter: Did the PAS meeting discuss nominating another person other than Wan Azizah?
Mustafa: No, no. This was not the meeting to discuss an alternate candidate. It did not arise. No, there has been no discussion on that tonight. We did not discuss it.
Is the alternate candidate (PKR deputy president) Azmin Ali?
No, no. We did not discuss that name.
Was Wan Azizah rejected because of her gender or qualification?
No, no, not because of gender. We have informed this to PKR, have informed to PKR why (we reject Wan Azizah) but not on gender. I won’t disclose (the reasons). We have informed about all this to PKR. PKR is aware.
What did you inform PKR?
We cannot reveal this, but we have informed PKR.
Has PAS instructed assemblypersons not to accept Wan Azizah as MB?
It has not come to that stage.
Is PAS interested to nominate its own MB candidate?
Even though PAS has the most seats, we have decided not to take the MB post. The issue does not arise at the time.
So it is true that PAS rejects Wan Azizah?
We have given this (decision to PKR) confidentially. There is no mention of candidates.
Why did PAS reject Wan Azizah?
For me to answer that, I have to state the reasons, and I cannot reveal them. So I cannot answer that question.
(Question inaudible)
It is the sultan’s prerogative not to intervene on the matter.
If the sultan accepts (the nomination for a new MB), what can we do (and), if (sultan) doesn’t accept, what can we do? The sultan has powers.
Selangor crisis today
11.17am: Two PAS assemblypersons pledge support for Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as MB, giving her majority support of the House.
12:42pm: PKR exco member Rodziah resigns.
12.58pm: Exco member confirms that PKR, DAP S'gor councillors will not lose their jobs.
1.46pm: Khalid refuses to budge until a no confidence vote is called.
2pm: PAS Hulu Kelang rep Saari Sungib ready to leave party for Pakatan.
4.16pm: PAS gives pro-Wan Azizah reps 24 hours to retract stand or face action.
5.30pm: DAP claims Khalid may call snap polls in November.
5.42pm: Lim Kit Siang tells Khalid to resign for misleading sultan on majority support.
5.45pm: Law experts say no assembly sitting required to oust Khalid as MB.
11.24pm: PAS denies claims that it is rejecting Wan Azizah because she is a woman, but won't reveal its reasons. -M'kini
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