A power struggle seemed to be brewing in Kelantan Pas when more than 100 supporters of its deputy commissioner, Datuk Husam Musa, staged a protest yesterday against his exclusion from the state's executive council line-up.
Their move was unprecedented as there had never been any public demonstration by party members against any decision made by their leaders in the past.
The protesters began to converge in front of the main entrance of Kota Darulnaim, the state government's administration complex, from 9.30am.
Holding banners, they questioned the appointments of new Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah and state executive councillors, who were sworn in at the state palace on Monday.
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At the swearing-in ceremony, Husam, who is also Pas vice-president and two-term state executive councillor, was not included in the newly-formed state government.
In Sunday's general election, Husam retained his Salor state seat but lost his bid for the Putrajaya parliamentary constituency when he was defeated by Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
In the previous state administration under the then menteri besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Husam was widely seen as one of the favourite candidates to be promoted further in the party's and state government's hierarchy.
Husam's removal from public office by the new state leadership has also raised eyebrows among Pas supporters in the state.
In yesterday's incident, district police internal security and public order chief Deputy Superintendent Noh Che Pa addressed the crowd, telling them that the gathering was illegal.
He gave them 20 minutes to disperse and subsequently the crowd began to leave. No untoward incident was reported.
