Permatang Pauh PAS explains leader's presence at lunch with PM Najib

Permatang Pauh PAS has condemned those who have criticised its leader Omar Hassan for attending a lunch function with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today.

Jamsari Samad, the Permatang Pauh PAS information chief, said criticisms against Omar were being hurled by the PAS' rivals who were "politically immature".

He explained that Omar attended the event because he was invited in his capacity as the Seberang Jaya mosque committee chairperson and the representative of 28 other mosques in Permatang Pauh.

"He will represent them to receive contributions of laptops and financial aid for the mosques," Jamsari said in a statement.

The invitation, said Jamsari, came from the Penang Islamic Affairs Council.

Omar was among the 21,380 participants at an event where everyone sat cross-legged for lunch with Najib.

The event made it into the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest gathering of people sitting cross-legged for a meal.

Photographs of Omar sitting close to Najib has been making rounds online.

'Mature politics'

Omar is often remembered by Pakatan Harapan supporters as a PAS leader who urged the party to boycott PKR's campaign during the Permatang Pauh by-election in 2014.

At the time, Omar said this was necessary because PKR did not back hudud law.

Meanwhile, Jamsari said Omar also took the opportunity to inform the PM about the problems faced by the Malay and Muslim community in Penang.

Jamsari said that the Permatang Pauh and Penang chapter of PAS have agreed to Omar's presence at the event.

Omar participation at a government event was nothing unusual, said Jamsari, because Omar had also attended programmes organised by the Penang government in his capacity as the Seberang Jaya mosque committee head.

He said that Permatang Pauh PAS has always been consistent in its struggles against the wrongdoings by Umno, BN, DAP and Pakatan Harapan.

"Some unbelievers are partly supporters and defenders of others, if you (Muslim brothers) do not do your duty as commanded by God, then there will be disturbances and slander on this earth," he said. - Mkini