newspaper archive for Wong Hon Wai 黄汉伟剪报集

Sunday, 5 July 2015

New Pakatan to be revealed after Hari Raya, says Mat Sabu

As reported in Malaysian Insider

BY LOOI SUE-CHERN

Published: 3 July 2015 9:42 PM

Former PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu delivers his speech during a breaking-of-fast ceremony in Seberang Jaya, Penang, today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain,July 3, 2015.

Former PAS central committee members who have bandied together under the G18 banner have promised a new pact after the Hari Raya celebrations this month.

Mohamad Sabu, the former PAS deputy president, said they must build a new Pakatan Rakyat that would be greater than its defunct predecessor.

He said it must be a pact that considered integrity as the most important value.

"Our job is not just to replace Umno and Barisan Nasional. We must present a new formula.

"I support the Penang government strongly because it has integrity and practises a culture and virtue similar to Islamic teachings.

"It is not about the Malay spirit but the spirit of harmony. There is no other remedy except to change the government," he said at breaking-of-fast event organised by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at The Light Hotel in Seberang Jaya today.

Mohamad, also known as Mat Sabu, said Islam was a religion that preached peace and the Quran also taught Muslims to speak courteously with good words when talking or making arguments to both Muslims and non-Muslims.

"It didn't teach us to use words like wolves, dogs and jebon.

"Tak kena tu (that is not right)," he said, taking a swipe at PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who had used such words during a ceramah last week.

Hadi said wolves and dogs could go on barking but PAS would not be swayed from its hudud agenda.

Also present at the event were Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa) president Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi, former PAS central committee member Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, former PAS strategist Dr Hatta Ramli and former Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib.

Mujahid said there was no need to be sad over the demise of Pakatan Rakyat because a new force would soon emerge.

"Never before have we seen losers being celebrated. I am talking about my party (PAS).

"We will see a new wave. Hopefully as syawal comes, we will see a new wave emerge," he said at the event.

The former PAS central committee members seen at the breaking-of-fast event tonight. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain,July 3, 2015.

PasMa’s Phahrolrazi echoed Mujahid, saying that there was an urgent need for a new coalition to be formed among the opposition parties.

He said he was saying that not on behalf of his own organisation, but also for all groups that had supported Pakatan, placed high hopes in the pact and were crushed to see it collapse.

"We must have a new coalition. I have said if G18 does not do it, PasMa will," he said.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said the ultimate goal and direction was to topple BN, save Malaysia and return the country to the people.

He said they could not work with anyone who would want to form a unity government with Umno.

"We will wait for updates (on the new party) and wait to unite our strength to fight Barisan," he said.

Mohamad Sabu speaks to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain,July 3, 2015.

DAP and PAS had been on a warring path since the Islamist party tabled and passed the hudud bill at the Kelantan legislative assembly in March.

Early last month at the party's muktamar, the new ulama-led PAS leadership accepted without debate a motion by the Dewan Ulama to end ties with DAP.

Following this, DAP declared Pakatan dead and the ousted progressive PAS leaders now dubbed G18 are considering the setting up of a new Islamist party to form a new opposition coalition. – July 3, 2015.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/new-pakatan-to-be-revealed-after-hari-raya-says-mat-sabu