PAS’s Nasharudin replaces Saifuddin as moderates’ group chief

Former PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa was named the new CEO of the Global Movement of Moderates Foundation. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 28, 2015. 

Former PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa is the new chief of Putrajaya’s Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMM), replacing Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah who recently joined opposition party PKR.

GMM chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail said in a statement today Nasharudin’s appointment would take effect from November 1, and expressed confidence that the movement would continue to advocate moderation as an approach in Malaysia’s foreign policy and on the local scene.

“The foundation will work closely with the relevant stakeholders in realising the operationalisation of the Langkawi Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates,” Razali said today.

Nasharudin, former MP for Yan, graduated in Islamic jurisprudence from the University of Jordan and was a former lecturer at the International Islamic University of Malaysia and the National University of Malaysia.

During his tenure as deputy president, Nasharuddin was one of the Islamist party’s leading proponents of talks with political rival Umno.

An advocate of a unity government with Umno, Nasharuddin had also expressed unhappiness at the formation of PasMa, which sought to ensure the party remained part of the former opposition pact, Pakatan Rakyat.

“I have been working so long on a political understanding between PAS and Umno as a top choice for Malays and Muslims in the country. So, with the entrance of a new party, it will affect this understanding, it may not be good for the future,” Nasharuddin said.

PasMa eventually became Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) recently and joined the new opposition pact Pakatan Harapan.

Amanah’s leaders are mainly former “progressive” PAS members who are seen as more moderate in their approach to political cooperation with other parties, civil society and ethnic groups.

PAS is not part of Pakatan Harapan, having falling out with former ally DAP while refusing to work with Amanah, whose leaders it calls “traitors”.

On October 15, Saifuddin said he was leaving Umno for PKR, citing Putrajaya’s handling of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal and the RM2.6 billion deposited into the prime minister’s personal accounts as reasons for the departure.

The former Temerloh MP also said the Malay ruling party was unwilling to embark on political change and institutional reform – two causes which, he said, were close to his heart.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is founder and patron of GMM, which he formed as a platform to promote moderation on the international stage.

- TMI