KUALA LUMPUR – Kuala Nerus MP Datuk Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali has announced his departure from PAS following a series of disagreements with the Islamist party’s leadership.
Speaking during the press conference at the Parliament building, here, the former plantations industries and commodities minister said he had handed over his resignation letter in line with the party’s constitution to PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, at 2.30pm today. – The Vibes, March 14, 2022
In tendering his resignation, Khairuddin, who was a PAS member since 1989, said he thanked the party for giving him the opportunity to hold several leadership positions.
“I also thank PAS for affording me the opportunity to be nominated as a candidate twice for elections, which allowed me to be the Kuala Nerus MP since 2013.
“I also appreciated the opportunity to serve as plantations industries and commodities minister from March 2020 until August 2021,” he said.
Khairuddin pledged to hand out all allocations he received as MP to PAS until the end of his term as “bai’ah” (oath of allegiance) to the party.
“I pray for the success of PAS as a party carrying the Islamic agenda and as a Muslim, I will continue to defend PAS’ policies.
“I urge all PAS members to continue with their struggles in the party and continue to fight for Islam through PAS,” he said.
When asked about his reasons for quitting, Khairuddin said it was a difficult question to answer as he still loves PAS but will continue to be an independent MP in the meantime.
“It was a tough decision taken by me but I chose to quit on my own volition as accorded by the party’s constitution,” he added.
Khairuddin’s decision comes as no surprise following his falling out with the party’s leadership since late last year.
In addition to being dropped as minister under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s cabinet line-up, Khairuddin was sacked as PAS Syura Council secretary on February 10 due to disciplinary issues.
He was also dropped from PAS’ central working committee line-up on January 12 after failing to defend his post in the 2021-2023 term party elections last November.
In what could be interpreted as a parting shot to PAS, Khairuddin had criticised the party leadership following its poor showing during the Johor election.
Taking to Facebook earlier today, he told off the leadership for straying from its “culture of mature and hospitable politics” all the way to the “South China Sea”.
“However, the truth will never be admitted by the leadership during the election post-mortem. The denial syndrome and sweeping the rubbish under the carpet if continued will surely kill the party, one day,” he added. – The Vibes, March 14, 2022
