'I was treated like an illegal immigrant in PAS'

Apart from Pokok Sena lawmaker Mahfuz Omar, a former managing director of PAS mouthpiece Harakah was among those who joined PAS splinter party Amanah today.

Rosli Yaakop - who joined PAS in the late 1990s – has also served as a deputy manager with Bank Negara and as PAS' Negri Sembilan state commissioner.

Rosli said his decision to join Amanah was due to repeated urging by PAS members.

“When I meet Amanah members, they ask when I will join Amanah and when I meet PAS friends they say 'How come you are still here? When are you leaving PAS?'

“It is as though I am no longer needed [...] like I am an illegal immigrant,” said Rosli at a press conference at the temporary chamber of the Parliament building today.

Apart from Rosli, his wife Anumma Mohd Bawanater also joined him in becoming a new Amanah party member.

Further explaining his reasons for leaving PAS, Rosli said they were due to “push and pull” factors.

“I don't want to talk about the push factor today and I don't even want to mention it. But what pulled me to Amanah was the fact that it is not alone, it is together with PKR, DAP and Bersatu,” he said.

To win, a particular coalition would need to work together with many parties, he added.

“If a party wants to be alone in facing the general election, it would be impossible for the party to come to power.

“It's impossible for PAS to take over the country's leadership except by the grace of Allah.”

BN's strength, he pointed out, was due to the merger of various parties. -Mkini