Former Selangor PAS chief says the party must strengthen its position within the coalition and broaden its appeal to win back the state
PETALING JAYA: PAS has a strong bench of qualified leaders who can be considered for the menteri besar post, not just the five names put forward by Perak PAS Youth, said former Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
He said the move to name potential candidates reflects the coalition’s preparedness to take over the last northern state still governed by a bloc outside Perikatan Nasional (PN).
“PN is indeed ready to take over the Perak state government. God willing, with the support of the people, this will happen in the next general election.
“PN, with a line-up of leaders from PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP), is very capable of administering the state more effectively,
“We work as one team. If we put forward any leader, that individual will represent PN as a whole, not just a single party,” he told theSun via WhatsApp.
Ahmad Faizal, who is also a former Perak PN chairman, said it is unsurprising for PAS to have a wide pool of capable leaders, given its political experience.
“I have worked with many PAS leaders and in my view, they have more capable figures beyond the five mentioned. The same can also be said of Gerakan and MIPP,” said Ahmad Faizal, who served as Perak menteri besar (2018-2020.)
Ahmad Faizal was commenting on a statement by Perak PAS Youth strategic director Nurhafizul Badrul Hisham, who identified five PAS leaders as potential menteri besar candidates should the party win in the upcoming election.
The individuals named include Perak PAS commissioner and vice-president Datuk Seri Idris Ahmad, who is also the Bagan Serai MP, Perak state assembly opposition leader Razman Zakaria, Selama assemblyman Mohd Akmal Kamarudin, Kamunting assemblyman and Perak PAS secretary Mohd Fakhrudin Abdul Aziz as well as Manjoi assemblyman and PAS central youth deputy chief Hafez Sabri.
Ties between PAS and Bersatu have shown signs of strain, particularly following the Perlis MB episode in 2025, which saw Sanglang PAS rep Mohd Shukri Ramli stepping down after losing majority support in the state assembly.
