'Don't make me the scapegoat,' says former Perlis MB

Former Perlis menteri besar and Sanglang assemblyman Shukri has claimed his name is being made a "scapegoat" whenever the leadership faces manpower shortages, a weak party machinery and a lukewarm response from members.

"If it is true that grassroots support is weakening, don't look for a scapegoat so easily. Reflect, and ask why some members have become disappointed, distanced themselves or lost their spirit," he said in a lengthy Facebook post.

Shukri denied ever inciting members to boycott party programmes, abandon the struggle or weaken the PAS machinery.

He said his meetings with members and supporters after losing his post were only meant to console those who came to express their disappointment and hurt. Members' sympathy over what had happened to him, he said, should not be treated as a planned movement to divide the party.

"I am not a schemer out to split the party's unity. But I admit that I have friends and PAS members who sympathise with what happened to me and who still love this party and this struggle. Their sympathy should not continue to be regarded as something I planned or mobilised," he said.

Shukri also admitted he still felt hurt by the elected representatives who signed statutory declarations (SDs) to withdraw their support for him, but stressed that he did not want lasting enmity.

However, he said those he alleged had given support, encouragement and momentum to the move should also be held responsible — not only the three former PAS assemblymen who have already faced action.

"Three representatives have received punishment. In my view, those who gave support, encouragement and spirit to that move must also have the courage to take responsibility," he said.

The three are former Chuping assemblyman Saad Seman, Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji), whose PAS memberships were terminated following the crisis.

Shukri resigned as menteri besar on Dec 25 last year after eight Perikatan Nasional assemblymen, including three from PAS, were reported to have withdrawn their support for him. Abu Bakar Hamzah of Bersatu was subsequently sworn in as menteri besar.