PAS sends mixed signals on People's Gathering

While PAS ulama council chief Harun Taib had urged party supporters not to attend tomorrow's 'People's Gathering' in Petaling Jaya, party vice-president Mahfuz Omar has asked Kedah PAS supporters to turn up in numbers.

Harun was quoted in Berita Harian today as saying that such gathering would not bring any benefit or strengthen the party. 

He said he does not support such gatherings and called on party members to accept the results of the election.

For Harun (right), it is better for the party to focus on strengthening the party and attract new supporters rather than attending such gatherings of no benefit to PAS.

"I am not interested in participating in such gatherings and my view is that party members should not attend it as it does not benefit or strengthen the party," the daily quoted him as saying.

However, Mahfuz, who is also Pokok Sena MP and Kedah PAS commissioner, in a short text message to Malaysiakini said he has asked Kedah PAS supporters to join the gathering.

"I hope the police would not hamper the gathering," he said, adding that party has decided that it is not a problem for members to attend the rally.

The PAS vice-president said the gathering would help strengthen the party. 

He did not want to comment on Harun's statement, saying it could be the PAS ulama chief's personal view but for the party it had decided that there is nothing wrong in members  being at such events. 

Mahfuz said the authorities confiscating Harakah, Suara Keadilanand The Rocket yesterday, all Pakatan parties' official publications will result in people turning up in numbers.

However, he added that he himself will not be able to make it as he had to be in Kuching, Sarawak tomorrow for his nephew’s wedding reception.

Yesterday it was reported that Solidariti Aank Muda Malaysia (SAMM) chairperson, Badrul Hisham Shaharin, said that the Peoples Gathering that will be on as scheduled at the field in front of the Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya.

This is in defiance of the crackdown by the authorities who  arrested PKR vice-president Tian Chua, Anything But Umno founder Haris Ibrahim and former Batu Berendam MP and now PAS member Tamrin Ghafar.