New PAS movement to be announced today

Mohamad Sabu, a former PAS deputy president, will announce the formal existence of the New Hope Movement today, say sources. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, July 13, 2015.

The official new movement of PAS progressives is expected to be announced today, ahead of the formation of their new highly anticipated political party.

The announcement of the “New Hope Movement” or known by its Bahasa Malaysia acronym of GHB will be made by its chairman, Mohamad Sabu, a former PAS deputy president.

“We will announce the basic structure of the movement before we start our road shows throughout the country after Hari Raya Aidilfitri,” a source in the movement told The Malaysian Insider.

The first leg of the road shows will be held in Kota Baru, Kelantan and in Perlis on July 19 where G18 leaders, together with leaders from DAP and PKR, will meet the public to assess their popularity.

News that the GHB would be formed was first made known after a meeting among PAS progressive leaders in Bakri, Johor on June 12.

The 18 leaders, dubbed the “G18”, had had been ousted from senior positions within the Islamist party at its June 6 assembly.

To date, the G18 have only had two gatherings, in Bakri and Tongkang Pecah, both in Johor, said sources, adding that they both drew huge crowds.

It has been hinted that the G18 will form a new political party which will then join together with DAP and PKR to forge a new coalition after the end of Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

PR was declared dead by DAP and PKR after the former and PAS ended relations last month.

“After Raya, we want to assess our support through the country,” the source said.

In Kota Baru, the road show will include former PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, DAP parliamentary chief Lim Kit Siang and PKR election director Datuk Saifudin Nasution Ismail.

Mohamad, or known as Mat Sabu, is expected to helm the Perlis road show together with other DAP and PKR leaders. Other legs of the nationwide road show will be announced later.

The new movement is also expected to get the support of Muslim non-governmental organisations, such as Ikram and Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa). The latter is also made up of PAS members.

- TMI