Mat Sabu moots Indian Muslim wing for Amanah

GE14 | Amanah president Mohamad Sabu received a standing ovation today when he mooted setting up a party wing for Indian Muslim members.

He announced this at a meet-and-greet event in Subang today with members of the Indian Muslim community, which was co-organised with the group Gagasan India Muslim Malaysia.

“I, (incumbent Shah Alam MP) Khalid Samad, and other leaders will propose that once Indian Muslims join Amanah, they would need an Indian Muslim wing within Amanah.

“We will have a youth wing, a women’s wing, and an Indian Muslim wing. God willing,” he said to the applauding crowd of about 200 people.

As part of the day’s proceedings, Mohamad received a parcel said to contain 200 membership application forms from the Persatuan Pengusaha Restoran India Muslim Malaysia president Noorul Hasan Sahul Hameed.

Mohamad said he hoped the move to introduce an Indian Muslim wing would make Amanah more inclusive, and that the party flag would be flown nationwide whether in towns or in the countryside.

He pledged that once Pakatan Harapan takes federal power, it would process citizenship applications solely based on the merits of each applicants.

He claimed that some Indian Muslims have held permanent residents’ passes despite living in Malaysia for decades, because the BN-led administration sees no benefit in processing applications from places deemed to be opposition strongholds.

He also jokingly said that once there are sufficient numbers of Indian Muslims in the party ranks, the party leaders will be having nasi briyani for meals once a month after its meetings.

A new movement

Speaking to reporters later, Mohamad said the Indian Muslim support for Harapan is a new movement, as the demographic group traditionally supports BN.

He added that the target is to recruit 5,000 members by the 14th general election, for which polling day is set on May 9.

Asked if any of these members would be fielded as candidates, Mohamad said this had yet to be discussed.

“For now, they (Indian Muslims) are only asking for a national-level committee. A party committee,” he said.

According to the latest census that was conducted in 2010, there are 78,702 Indian Muslims in Malaysia, representing 4.1 percent of the Indian Malaysian population and 0.3 percent of the Malaysian citizenry.

Earlier in his speech, Mohamad said Indian Muslims have become more supportive of the federal opposition in the recent years. He quipped that as a result, he had gotten many free meals throughout his travels.

“I have been in the opposition for 40 years. Normally, members of the opposition would have to pay, but the past two years have been different," Mohamad said.

“I often go to an Indian Muslim eatery in Kajang. When it’s time to pay, he said it’s already been paid for. Then I went to an Indian Muslim eatery in Tanjung Malim. I ate with friends and when it’s time to pay, he says it’s already paid for.

"I stopped over in Tapah, and there’s this Indian Muslim eatery after the toll. Want to pay; already paid for.

“I wondered why. Today I find out it is because Indian Muslims will be supporting Pakatan Harapan,” he said.

He said Indian Muslim restaurants play a key role in Malaysian society, as it could thrive even in areas where the population is predominantly non-Muslim, thereby upholding Islam while also offering Muslims a place to eat when visiting such areas. - Mkini