PAS wows Kedah with crowd of over 50,000

As if to challenge the big crowd at the recent 66th Umno anniversary at Bukit Jalil Stadium, PAS managed to attract more than 50,000 supporters at its gathering dubbed 'Himpunan Hijau ke Putrajaya' tonight.

Spirits were extremely high and the crowd was in a mood of jubilation as if Pakatan Rakyat had just won the 13th general election, which is still not called yet but is due by June next year.

The sounds of 'Takbir' in the air were deafening as hordes of supporters spilled into the open field inside the venue, with some remaining outside the stadium, which could only house up to 35,000  people.

Starting from 9pm tonight, Stadium Darul Aman was flooded with a sea of green as most of the crowd wore T-shirts, baju melayu orbaju kurung of the party colour as well as to show support for Himpunan Hijau's environmental struggles.

They waved their party flags incessantly, screaming at the top of their voices and blowing their horns every time a speaker made an interesting remark.

Among the speakers were PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, president Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Mohamed Sabu,  veep Mahfuz Omar, and the party's Kedah commissioner and Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak.

PAS declares its commitment to Putrajaya

The highlight of the event was the entry of several prominent personalities into PAS - two celebrities, six footballers, who include several national players, and an academic professor - Nik Mohd Zain Nik Yusuf.

The female artist, Wan Aishah Wan Ariffin, shed tears and delivered an emotional speech when she told the crowd she had only recently joined the Islamic party.

"But please do not forget us when you arrive at Putrajaya," she pleaded, addressing PAS leaders present at the event.

But the highlight of the night must be the appearance of Bersih co-chairperson and national laureate A Samad Said at the event, because the crowd was in a frenzy when he dedicated a poem for youth.                                                                                            
"Youths are the one who will lead the way to Putrajaya," he said, and this was followed by a declaration by PAS members to remain strong and steadfast in their struggle. The 'ikrar' was read out by the party's secretary-general Mustafa Ali.

'PAS not heading to Putrajaya alone'

Meanwhile, the crowd was double that of this morning and afternoon when PAS held separate sessions with its supporters, in the morning at the party's headquarters in Kota Sarang Semut, and in the afternoon at the same stadium with the youth members.

Thousands of youths turned out at about 4pm for the gathering, braving the intense rain and thunderstorm.

While many sought shelter under the covered section of the stadium, many more crowded the field, and stood under the pouring rain to hear their leaders speak, among them PAS Youth chief Nasharuddin Tantawi.

When the time for Asar prayer came, the crowd carried out their prayers on the field despite the rain.

Later the party launched its mascots - an animation of two characters named 'Hadi and Huda'  - a representation of what good Muslims should be.  

During a press conference at the end of the event, Mahfuz, who heads the organising committee, told reporters that PAS would be on a similar roadshow to motivate its members ahead of the general election.

On the rally's theme - Himpunan Hijau ke Putrajaya - Mahfuz clarified that it does not mean that PAS was heading to the country's administrative centre on its own.

"The coalition partners need to work together and PAS will contribute in any way we can to achieve that goal together."

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