PENDANG: Sungai Tiang Umno assemblyman Datuk Suraya Yaacob today brushed off talks that her decision to quit as a Kedah executive councillor was a political maneuvere to push for the State Legislative assembly's dissolution.
Instead, the Pendang Umno division chief said she resigned due to her personal principles against mixing government administrative duties and political responsibilities.
"I stand by my principles that the duties in government administration should not be mixed with my responsibilities to the party.
"To me it is unfair to make use of public funds to perform my duties for the party," she said when met after opening the Pendang Umno division annual delegates meeting here today.
Suraya said she had been planning to leave the post much earlier but did not get the Umno president's consent until Parliament was dissolved last week.
"As such, it was about time for me to focus on my duties to the party," she said.
Suraya added that she learnt that some of the state executive councillors in the state government might be contesting for Parliamentary seats in the next general election.
"It can be done, but to me principally it is a bit awkward and could be manipulated as taking advantage of the (state) machinery," she said.
Suraya denied talks that her decision was a ploy to pressure Menteri Besar Datuk Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to dissolve the State Legislative assembly.
"No, there was no instruction from the party. It also has nothing to do with personal issues or whatsoever.
"The menteri besar said he understood my decision when I tendered my resignation letter and thanked me for my services to the state government.
"I am still in support of this state government. After all, we (Umno) still have our representatives serving in the Village Development and Security Committees as well as councillors in the local government," she said.
However, personally Suraya said she hoped for the state assembly to be dissolved soon, so the state election could be held concurrently with the 15th General Election (GE15).
"I do pray for the state assembly to be dissolved soon because this state government was formed by multiple parties to temporarily administer the state.
"I can understand if Kelantan and Terengganu decline to dissolve their respective State Legislative assembly but in Kedah it is a different scenario," she said.
On Thursday, Suraya tendered her resignation as the state executive councillor, fuelling speculations that she would be fielded as a Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Pendang parliamentary seat.
Suraya, who was the sole Umno representative in the Kedah administration, held the public works, water supply and water resources and energy portfolios.
On speculations that she would be contesting for the Pendang parliamentary seat, Suraya said she was leaving it to the Umno president to decide.
Asked on BN's chances to wrest back Pendang from Pas, Suraya said the party stood an equal chance.
"We are expecting a four cornered-fight between BN, Pas, PH (Pakatan Harapan) and Pejuang (Parti Pejuang Tanah Air).
"I heard Awang (Datuk Awang Hashim who won Pendang in GE14) told his friends 'just bring it on' so I am also telling him to 'just bring it on'," she said in jest.
Suraya said the failure of Umno-Pas electoral pact under Muafakat Nasional would not have significant impact at the grassroot level.
"I am totally supportive of the spirit of 'perpaduan ummah' (Muslim unity) created by Muafakat Nasional but we can't simply push that into politics.
"It is unfair to force Umno members to vote for Pas candidate and vice-versa at the 11th hour because each party has different own ideology.
"This matter will take time to be implemented as it requires mind setting among the members from different parties," she said.
Suraya said it would be wiser for each party to contest fairly in the democratic process and continue working on ummah unity after the conclusion of the GE15.
