KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar has today downplayed reports of Gerakan’s unhappiness within Perikatan Nasional (PN) due to its incendiary stand of ethnic and religious issues.

Instead, the PN treasurer said component party members must instead convince each other so supporters will continue to back the coalition’s candidates in the six state elections.

"To put it in a nutshell, I believe all parties have hardcore and non-hardcore supporters. All have a duty to invite their members to support the PN. This is normal [behaviour] and it’s a matter for all parties to look into.

"We want maximum support from all our party’s supporters and from the general population, young voters who are partyless as they are the biggest chunk of voters [percentage-wise] registered to vote,” he told the press after PN’s Professional Convention Malaysia, which was also live-streamed.

Earlier today, Free Malaysia Today reported a source claiming Gerakan members are unhappy with the party staying with PN, due to coalition leaders’ hostile comments against non-Malays and non-Muslims.

In response, Samsuri said it is normal to have differing opinions among members of the same party.

Commenting on the report which claimed that 50 per cent of Gerakan’s supporters are contemplating for the party to leave PN, Samsuri questioned such a survey.

"Well, it’s the first time we’re hearing about this report and we must question how the information was collated like the methodology, what questions were asked and who the respondents are,” he said.

PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and its Kedah chief Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor were among the politicians currently being investigated for stoking racial flames with their remarks ahead of the six state elections next month.

Among others, Abdul Hadi has insisted on Malay political supremacy, while Sanusi has denied the legitimacy of Penang in addition to accusing non-Muslims complicit in bribery.