KOTA BARU: Pas dismissed allegations that Sabah representatives in the 15th General Election (GE15) who decided to withdraw from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) yesterday, did so due to racial and religious rhetoric.
Instead, the party's vice-president, Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, said Pas believed they left Bersatu for their political survival.
"This can be seen from their statements," said the deputy menteri besar in a brief WhatsApp reply to the New Straits Times.
Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal had rubbished the former Sabah Bersatu leaders' claims on Islamic extremism.
He said the Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN) constitutions emphasised respecting the rights of the non-Muslims.
"As a Muslim leader, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun should refer to Article 6 of the Bersatu constitution and Article 5 of the PN constitution.
"These clauses explained the reason why Bersatu and PN were established. It's clearly not about violating the right of non-Muslims to practise their respective religions in a peaceful and harmonious environment."
Yesterday, Masidi said the increasing racial and religious rhetoric of some Peninsular-based parties, especially in the run-up to GE15, was inconsistent with the values of a multi-racial and multireligious Sabah and Sarawak.
He said the mass departure of Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and others were to ensure they were still in power.
"They have forgotten about their principles and what they fought for.
"It is even more frustrating when we recall our sacrifices and hard work during the state election last year."