No one has the right to make me attend Pakatan meet, says Hadi

PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang says no one can compel him to attend this Sunday’s Pakatan Rakyat leadership council meeting, a veiled attack directed toward DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, February 7, 2015. Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang today refuted confirmation by PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali and its deputy president Mohamad Sabu that he would be attending the Pakatan Rakyat presidential council meeting on Sunday.

In a veiled attack at DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, the PAS president said no one had  the right to decide if he would be attending the much anticipated meeting.

The DAP had repeatedly insisted in recent months that Hadi who had been absent from meetings attend the meeting to avoid disputes once the council had made a decision on policy,

“He (Lim) has no right to determine if I will attend or not. It is up to me whether I will attend. I am not a schoolboy. We’ll see first,” Hadi told the Islamist party’s organ Harakah Online tonight.

“See on the day of the meeting whether I attend,” he said in jest at newsmen who had attended his weekly sermon at his hometown in Kampung Rusila, Terengganu today.

The PR leadership council meeting will be held this Sunday at 2.30pm at the PAS headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu today assured the media that Hadi would attend the meeting.

His assurance comes after a similar one from party secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali on Monday following a meeting with opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"We have reached an agreement to hold the meeting. A discussion (between PAS leaders) was also held this morning at the PAS headquarters," Mustafa told The Malaysian Insider following the meeting.

The DAP had repeatedly demanded Hadi attend the meetings, saying the PAS leader’s absence will cause PKR and DAP to play guessing games on which decisions would be vetoed by him.

Lim said it was untenable for Pakatan Rakyat to operate dysfunctionally if it wanted to convince Malaysians it could replace Barisan Nasional.

“This is the reason why the DAP central executive committee will wait until Hadi is available to attend Pakatan Rakyat leadership council meetings,” Lim said.

Hadi had skipped council meetings following the Selangor menteri besar imbroglio.

He annoyed the DAP and PKR after he refused to nominate PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s replacement. – February 7, 2015.