50 YEARS to gain the rust of non-Malays, yet in one stroke Hadi KILLS IT - Pas moderates say new party 'a must'

TEMERLOH - A gathering organised today by PAS leaders ousted in the recent party elections turned dull with only 200 people turning up to hear about plans for the formation of a new political party next month.

Bernama reported that some attendees were seen leaving the gathering, dubbed Perhimpunan Perjuangan Bermula Di Sini, when the leaders involved expressed their disappointment with the newly-elected PAS leadership, especially party president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Among the leaders present were former Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, former Malaysian Ulama Association president Awang Ahmad, the MP for Shah Alam, Khalid Abdul Samad, former Perak Pakatan Rakyat secretary Dr Khairudin Abd Malik and Pahang state assembly opposition leader Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puri.

Mohammad Nizar said the results of the recent PAS elections would definitely bring about negative impact to the party as they would never again gain the support of the Chinese community.

“PAS has taken 50 years to secure the Chinese community’s support. After 2008, the Chinese community loved the party more. I even won the Changkat Jering seat with 82 per cent of Chinese votes.

“At the recent Muktamar, however, various motions were raised and caused anger among the Chinese community. They said they will not give their support anymore. How do I face them? If I were to contest in an election now, I will surely lose,” he said.

Mohammad Nizar said it was important for a new party be set up to win the hearts of the people before the next general election.

Ahmad said he did not see how the damage in PAS could be repaired as the recent party elections had resulted in producing leaders who could hardly make any changes. He said most party decisions were now made in Rusila, home town of Abdul Hadi, and not at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

“I think everyone knows that PAS headquarters is no longer in Kuala Lumpur, but in Rusila, Terengganu, now. Everything is done in Rusila,” he said. -BERNAMA