UNTIL HADI & HIS 'PUS' ARE EXPELLED, PR AT RISK: PasMa says worst not over, tensions RISING

PKR, DAP and PAS may appear to be together in public facing Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Permatang Pauh by-election, but a pro-Pakatan Rakyat cell, Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa) is not convinced.

Its president Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi said he was worried the worst was far from over because there were still concerns that PR could split and weaken the coalition.

The Permatang Pauh by-election campaign that started today, he said, would be a test as the coalition was not at its strongest position to face its opponent.

"This by-election is being held when PR is facing a rising crisis. To what level the crisis will continue to rise, we don't know. But it is rising.

"Things are still tense, with the issues that we can all see, starting from the Selangor menteri besar crisis last year between PAS and PKR. And then between PAS and DAP over the hudud issue. PKR has also been dragged into it.

"So all the 3 partners are in the middle of it, and we are facing this during a by-election," he said at a briefing session with PasMa volunteers and supporters in Bandar Perda today.

Phahrolrazi said PR was lucky that at this point in time, BN too is facing a crisis of its own.

He said Umno had its own troubles with their veteran leaders led by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad openly demanding for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to step down.

Phahrolrazi Zawawi

"There is a split in Umno now, which means that BN is not united. There will be a faction in their leadership that is not standing behind Najib and wants to see Umno fails in the by-election.

"If Umno fails badly, it will certainly strengthen the calls that Najib must resign. In politics it is like that. Those who are against Najib will hope the results of this by-election will favour PR," he said.

Phahrolrazi said Umno's predicament was a bonus to PR, but PasMa as a non-governmental organisation needed to establish how it could help the opposition pact.

He said PasMa must focus on PR supporters, not the political parties that had their own machinery and strategies.

"Victory will depend heavily on voters who do not belong to any political parties. It is not enough to rely on the votes of members from the 3 parties to deliver victory.

Among the issues that PasMa's 1,000 volunteers needed to bring up to the people, he said was the goods and services tax (GST), which many were still unclear or confused about, and hudud which would impact Muslim votes.

"If the people fully understand the problem with GST, there is no doubt that BN will be defeated. We need to do this by meeting people personally," he said.

Hadi Awang

A more interactive and direct approach, he added would also be good in addressing questions whether it was haram (illegal) to vote for PKR, which was at odds with PAS over the hudud issue.

"We cannot just keep zeroing in on the interest of a certain community or religion. We have to consider our reality as a multiracial nation. Representatives of all races and religions must have a place in the government.

"Nobody can say only one race and one religion can rule the country. You cannot have that. It can't happen… this must be explained," he said.

PasMa is a cell set up by pro-PR PAS members during the height of the Selangor menteri besar last year when the coalition reached an impasse over the candidate for the top post in the wealthiest state in the country. – TMI