PAS strategist: Pakatan Harapan worse than BN

MUKTAMAR | PAS is the best choice for government as Pakatan Harapan is worse than BN, said PAS strategist Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki.

Speaking in the context of PAS' ambitions to recapture Kedah, Zuhdi said Harapan was not fit to govern the state.

"Harapan is worse than BN. If BN's core is Umno, then Harapan's core is DAP. There is no difference," Zuhdi said at a ceramah held in conjunction with the PAS muktamar in Alor Setar last night.

Zuhdi then proceeded to list out all the alleged negative aspects of the Harapan component parties.

He described DAP as corrupt, claiming they had plundered Penang "just like Umno" upon being voted in for a second term in 2013.

He cited the corruption allegations against Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, as well as the involvement of an allegedly corrupt businessman in the state's land reclamation project.

Zuhdi then painted Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairperson former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad as someone who is against Islam.

He claimed Mahathir was protecting Kassim Ahmad, a scholar who is allegedly anti-hadith; and had blocked Kelantan from implementing its hudud enactment in 1993.

He also linked Mahathir to the Memali incident, which saw 14 people linked to PAS being killed.

"Who was prime minister at the time?" Zuhdi asked the crowd, who responded, "Mahathir."

"You have all forgotten this. When you see Mahathir (you call him a) hero," Zuhdi said.

He also cited allegations that Mahathir had insulted Prophet Muhammad in 1997, by allegedly saying the prophet did not shave because he did not have a razor.

'PKR divided, Umno inept'

Meanwhile on PKR, Zuhdi said the party was too divided with party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's camp and deputy president Azmin Ali's camp trying to expose each other of alleged wrongdoing.

As for PAS splinter group Amanah, Zuhdi said, "There was no need to mention them."

Earlier in his speech however, he noted how troublemakers in the PAS-led Kedah government from 2008 to 2013 were no longer with the party, hence PAS would face no problems in running the state.

Zuhdi also claimed PAS was the only party opposing the Goods and Services tax (GST).

He claimed both DAP and PKR were agreeable to the tax, while Amanah would just follow DAP's stand.

On BN, Zuhdi criticised the ruling government’s economic mismanagement which has resulted in RM700 billion government debt, and RM800 billion household debt.

Thus, he said, BN and Umno should be given a "break" from governing Kedah, whether temporarily or permanently.

The PAS strategist's remarks come as the Islamist party is on the brink of cutting itself off completely from the opposition bloc.

PAS has moved to sever ties with PKR, its last remaining link to Harapan.

Whether or not the separation will proceed is up to PAS' syura council.- Mkini