Amanah president Mohamad Sabu has admitted that his party is “power crazy” and provided justifications for the need to be, as the 14th general election looms.
The party was earlier accused by a PAS leader for being “hungry” for power after it urged Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali to review PAS’ position in the state government.
More commonly known as Mat Sabu, he took the intended critique a step further and admitted to not just being hungry for power, but “power crazy”.
“Of course (we are power crazy), we want to take power. We contest because we want to take power, not just for fun.
“We are contesting the next general election because we want to take power and are power crazy. But that’s because we want to take power from crazy people,” he said laughingly as he spoke to reporters at the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
Selangor PAS commissioner Sallehen Mukhyi told Free Malaysia Today earlier today that the issue had little relevance to elections, and that Selangor Amanah should not have brought up the motion at the recent Amanah national convention as there were “no problems in the state administration”.
Selangor Amanah had contended that PAS’ existence in Selangor would only impede Pakatan Harapan’s (Harapan) chances of winning GE14. The motion was passed unanimously.
Following PAS’ muktamar in May, the Islamist party decided to cut ties with PKR.
Despite having severed ties with PKR, Selangor PAS did not call for the resignations of its three state executive councillors, citing the “mandate” given by the rakyat in the last general election under now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat coalition.
Azmin had also decided to maintain PAS in the state government on the same grounds.
When asked about Selangor Amanah’s plan to have him contest in Selangor, Mat Sabu was coy and said he contested “in every election”.
“But this time, I am more confident (in contesting) because I have seen the changes on the ground. The Amanah national convention was very well-received, and at the Bersatu convention, I saw many faces of those who have previously never voted for anyone other than BN.
“Which means that in the next election, we will see the added value of voters who will vote for Harapan,” he added.
Mohamad had won the parliamentary seat of Kubang Kerian in 1995 and Kuala Kedah in 1999.
However, he failed to defend Kuala Kedah in the 2004 general election and was defeated in the Kuala Terengganu and Pendang parliamentary seats in the 2008 and 2013 general elections.
100,000 expected at Harapan rally
Meanwhile, as Harapan mobilisation chief, Mat Sabu announced that the coalition is targeting 100,000 attendees at its upcoming “Love Malaysia, Eradicate Kleptocracy” rally, with red as its theme colour.
“As of now, it is open to all rakyat. Regardless of their party affiliation, we are confident that the people will show up,” he told the same press conference alongside DAP Selangor chief Tony Pua, Amanah Youth deputy chief Faiz Fadzil, Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as well as other Harapan leaders.
The rally is aimed at raising awareness on how the public can demand their rights and money from the 1MDB affair.
Pua said the rally would further ensure Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak would be unable to clear his name. Najib has denied abusing public funds for personal gain and has been cleared of any wrongdoing by attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali.
“We hope for a ‘tsunami’ to happen, where people of all races will come out and attend the rally,” said the Petaling Utara MP.
Among the events planned for the rally are ceramahs by Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR deputy president Mohamad Azmin Ali, a solathajat (special prayer) about “saving Malaysia” as well as cultural performances including choir, traditional dancing and singing shows. Food stalls will also be set up, added Faiz.
Also announced were two competitions - one calling for shorts videos and another for comics made to the theme “Love Malaysia, Eradicate Kleptocracy”.
Winners will be announced during the rally, scheduled for Oct 14 (Saturday) at the Padang Timor in Petaling Jaya, the rally will begin at 4pm and end at 12 midnight.
Enquiries can be made through Chin Pei Chi at 017 657 7506. - Mkini
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