Tuan Ibrahim denies Memali dredged up to attack Dr M

A PAS leader has denied claims the party is pursuing the Memali incident as a means of attacking former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is now at the forefront of the opposition.

Deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man last night defended his party's call for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the three-decade-old incident saying it was a quest for justice.

"For PAS, it isn't a question of wanting to 'attack' Mahathir or any individual.

"We want to uphold the principle of justice, not to make allegations on any party.

"That is the meaning of mature politics and peace that we are bringing," Harakahdaily reported Tuan Ibrahim saying after a ceramah on the 1MDB issue in conjunction with the Kuala Terengganu constituency session at Flat Hiliran in Terengganu last night.

While he did not elaborate, former PAS vice president and now Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub yesterday claimed the Islamist party was harping on the issue first raised by Umno's de facto deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, for political gain.

Salahuddin claimed PAS leaders had already made peace with the authorities over the tragedy of 1985, and that the present party leaders were likely playing it up now to attack Mahathir and to gain Malay support.

Tuan Ibrahim said he supports party president Abdul Hadi Awang's call for a RCI and hopes it can be done quickly, as it has been 32 years since the bloody clash between PAS leader Ibrahim “Libya” Mahmood's group and the police.

He added those responsible must apologise and admit their mistakes, adding Mahathir should go to Memali and apologise as suggested by party secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.

The incident on Nov 19, 1985, took place when police attempted to arrest the religious scholar and PAS leader Ibrahim at his camp. He was suspected of heading a "deviant" sect.

When the 400-strong police force rolled into the camp with armoured vehicles, they met with resistance, and 14 villagers including Ibrahim and four police personnel perished in the conflict. - Mkini