PETALING JAYA: Selangor Bersatu deputy chairman Rafiq Abdullah has brushed off criticism of the party's decision to ink a confidence and supply agreement with the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led state government.
Rafiq said the decision was made by Bersatu's political bureau, and that assemblymen were supposed to fall in line and abide by their leaders' decisions.
"As stated in Bersatu's constitution, whether one is a regular member, an assemblyman or an MP, we are all subject to the party's rules and decisions.
"If you disagree, you can leave Bersatu. It's a party decision, not a personal one," he said, according to Utusan Malaysia.
The Kuang assemblyman also argued that the pact was nothing remarkable, since Barisan Nasional (BN) signed a similar agreement with PH to form the unity government.
Menteri besar Amirudin Shari revealed last week, amid heightening tensions between PH and BN, that Bersatu assemblymen would sign a pact with the state government before the state budget is tabled.
This was criticised by Bersatu's Permatang assemblyman, Nurul Syazwani Noh, who said the party's assemblymen were not consulted about the pact.
Nurul, who is widely seen as not aligned with the current Bersatu leadership, said she had no qualms about working with the state government if it benefits the people, but the opposition’s role of providing checks and balances must continue.
The pact was revealed after Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah urged political leaders to stop jostling for power, during a meeting with Amirudin and his predecessors, Azmin Ali and Khir Toyo, both of Bersatu.
Separately, Selangor Bersatu communications director Noorazley Yahya said assemblymen would continue to function as opposition members serving as checks and balances on the state government, despite the pact.
He confirmed that the matter was not discussed with the party's 11 assemblymen but said Bersatu's political bureau had given state chief Azmin the mandate to hold negotiations with the Selangor government.
Noorazley, the Bukit Melawati assemblyman, said the pact was not political in nature as it would be inked with Amirudin and his state government, not PH.
"It's not that we're joining PH," he said, adding that Bersatu assemblymen would be involved in key district-level meetings through the pact.