Shukri 'still hurt' but denies inciting PAS boycott in Perlis
The former Perlis menteri besar says those who backed and encouraged the move to withdraw support from him should also be held accountable.
Sanglang assemblyman Shukri Ramli has admitted he still harbours resentment towards the assemblymen who signed statutory declarations (SDs) withdrawing their support for him, but said he did not intend to remain at odds with them forever.
In a lengthy Facebook post, he said those who supported and encouraged the move should also be held accountable, not just the three former PAS assemblymen who had already been punished.
"Three elected representatives have received their punishment. In my view, those who gave support, encouragement and motivation to the move should also take responsibility," he said.
The three former PAS assemblymen are Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji).
Shukri resigned as menteri besar on Dec 25 last year after eight Perikatan Nasional assemblymen, including the three PAS representatives, withdrew their support for him. Abu Bakar Hamzah of Bersatu was subsequently sworn in as the new menteri besar.
The party membership of the three former PAS assemblymen was terminated following the crisis, although they have reapplied to join PAS.
Shukri also rejected claims that he was responsible for weakening PAS's machinery in Perlis, saying he had become a "scapegoat" for the party leadership's inability to address dwindling grassroots support.
"If it is true that grassroots support is weakening, don't be too quick to look for a scapegoat," he said.
"Instead, reflect and ask why some members have become disappointed, distanced themselves, or lost heart."
He denied ever urging members to boycott party programmes, abandon the party's struggle or weaken its grassroots network.
Shukri said his meetings with members and supporters after losing his post were merely to hear the grievances of those who came to express their disappointment. He insisted that the sympathy shown towards him should not be misconstrued as an organised effort to split the party.
"I am not a mastermind seeking to divide the party. I have friends and PAS members who sympathise with what happened to me and who still care deeply about the party and its struggle.
"Their sympathy should not automatically be regarded as something that I planned or orchestrated," he said.
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