Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB) or New Hope Movement, led by its chairman Mohamad Sabu (right), at a roadshow in Kangar, Perlis, recently. GHB is made up of progressive leaders ousted at PAS’s elections last month. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, July 29, 2015.
A source told The Malaysian Insider the pro-tem committee of GHB had considered two approaches towards becoming a political party – register a new party and take over an existing party.
"We ran all two approaches at the same time and it seems that the second way is the best viable option," he said, referring to the taking over of Kita.
According to sources, there are two inactive parties that GHB had identified it could take over: Kita which was formed by former de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia (Ikatan) under former culture, arts and tourism minister Tan Sri Kadir Sheikh Fadzil.
However, Ikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Mustapa Kamal Maulut said his party was not suitable for GHB, which is driven by an Islamist agenda.
"Ikatan is too much a nationalist party to be taken over by GHB," said Mustapa Kamal.
However, Zaid, when contacted, said his party was ready to cooperate if GHB was willing.
"I think there is no problem,” Zaid told The Malaysian Insider, portraying his willingness to work with GHB, the progressive group ousted in PAS's recent elections, in setting up a new party.
Zaid also spoke at the Kelantan Chinese Assembly Hall when GHB launched its first road show in Kota Baru.
The GHB move to take over a political party is similar to the approach adopted by the Parti Keadilan Nasional which took over the Ikatan Masyarakat Islam Malaysia in April 1999 and eventually evolved into PKR after Parti Keadilan Nasional and Parti Rakyat merged.
GHB leaders felt that it would be a practical approach as it would be an uphill task to register a new party with the Registry of Societies which falls under the purview of the Home Ministry.
Meanwhile, PAS Supporters Club, which PAS had hoped would be a bridge to connect with non-Muslims, is now crumbling little by little, with its leaders joining GHB as well.
In Perak, almost all of its state-level committee declared its support for GHB.
The same is expected to happen with the supporters' club in Kedah.
"I have discussed with them and almost all will be with us," said Kedah GHB coordinator Dr Ismail Salleh, a former state exco and exco in the national unity bureau, the body that manages the supporters' club.
Two days ago, Perak PAS Supporters' Club declared its support for GHB in a dialogue with leaders of the movement in Ipoh.
- TMI
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