PasMa president Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi (left) says the cell will never be involved in PAS party matters. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 14, 2014.
Fast-growing Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera (PasMa) will hold its first full meeting tonight, ahead of its 100-day celebration and in defiance of PAS's Shura Council’s ban on members joining the cell within the Islamist party.
Its president Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi said that despite explaining that the group has no intention of determining the leadership of any party, conservatives within PAS continue to condemn its existence.
Some claimed that PasMa programmes have exposed the party's internal affairs and warned members against joining the cell while others resorted to calling PasMa and its supporters "Jebon" (a type of rodent) to express their displeasure.
"We will never be involved in party matters. Our duty is to strengthen the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. Whoever is chosen for the party leadership is up to the delegates," Phahrolrazi told The Malaysian Insider.
"The main purpose of tonight's meeting is not to intervene into PAS leadership issues but to streamline our administration and operation," he said.
He said that PasMa, established on August 10 following the Selangor menteri besar crisis which exposed fissures in the relationship between PAS and its Pakatan Rakyat allies, DAP and PKR, will officially celebrate its 100th day on November 20.
Phahrolrazi said he expected turnout at tonight’s meeting to be good, especially with branches being set up in every state.
It was reported that in Terengganu, where the cell faces the biggest opposition, almost all of the eight districts have each appointed a PasMa leader. Kedah, too, has appointed nearly all its PasMa district chiefs.
"We expect between 120 and 150 representatives and leaders from all over the nation to attend the meeting," said PasMa secretary-general Mohd Taib Ahmad.
"The introductory stage has been completed. After this, we will plan for bigger events such as dinners, dialogues with NGOs, etc," he said.
Mohd Taib did not dismiss the possibility that issues related to party leadership could crop up in discussions during the meeting, to be held at a hotel in Petaling Jaya.
"If there is a proposal, we will have to discuss it. What is definite though will be the statement made by DAP president Lim Guan Eng urging Hadi to attend PR leadership meetings," he said.
PasMa was established by PAS members said to be aligned to PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, following the Islamist party's disagreement with its allies over who should be named the Selangor menteri besar.
Tension in the opposition pact eased somewhat after PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali was sworn in as menteri besar on September 23, although conflict within PAS remains.
Some PAS leaders had placed the blame on PasMa, saying they could not fathom the objective behind the setting up of the group.
The anti-PasMa "campaign" had spilled over into the social media where a pro-ulama group, calling themselves El-Hariki, posted an anti-PasMa photograph on their profile to display their anger towards the group.
Among PAS leaders who have been labelled as "Jebon" included PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, vice-president Datuk Husam Musa, legal bureau chairman Mohamed Hanipa Maidin and treasurer Asmuni Ani.
On October 12, the Shura Council, PAS’s highest decision-making body, banned members from participating in the group, which is made up of party leaders and activists.
Shura Council secretary Nik Zawawi Salleh said the ban was in line with PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s reminder during his speech at the end of the party’s general assembly in Johor.
Hadi had issued a stern warning against deepening factionalism in PAS, or what he termed as “a Jemaah (congregation) within a Jemaah, a party within a party”.
He defended the Shura Council’s ban on the cell, saying the decision was made after complaints were lodged at the state level over alleged misconduct by PasMa members.
- TMI
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