Rakyat's hopes would be crushed were Harapan to split - Mat Sabu

AMANAH AGM | Pakatan Harapan's strength comes from its unity, and as such should not be allowed to break apart, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu said today. 

Speaking at the Amanah convention in Ipoh, Mohamad reminded his party that the people's hopes would be crushed were the coalition to disband.

"We must not forget the reminder by the Johor delegate that we are strong only because of our unity.

"If Amanah were to contest in the election alone, I think we could not even get a single seat. The strength we have today is because of Harapan and thus, we must protect Harapan.

"If we have any disputes, we discuss together. (Because) if Harapan is destroyed, then the rakyat's hopes are also destroyed," he said in his winding-up speech at the convention.

Increasing Malay support

In the wake of the exodus of lawmakers from Umno, Mohamad said that Amanah members need not fear those formerly of other parties joining the ranks.

He pointed out that anyone who could contribute to Amanah would be welcome, especially since the party is said to lack Malay support. 

"I have full confidence that whoever wants to join Amanah... we are open, and after they fill in the membership form we can control them.

"Even for election candidates, we can change them a day before nomination. This means that the national leadership is capable of steering this party, which upholds Islam as Rahmatan lil alamin (a blessing for all). So we should not fear the presence of new people. 

"Some of them might be prominent figures, but we have a mechanism of control. And the highest form of this mechanism is the Amanah constitution and rules," he said, adding that the party would only take in members on a case-by-case basis.

Addressing a party delegate's call for Putrajaya take a proactive role in bringing peace to countries in conflict, the defence minister assured that he government regularly holds discussions on defending the oppressed. 

He told delegates of his experience with the Rohingya issue, such as telling his counterpart in Myanmar how Malaysia dealt with the communist insurgency.

"I told him that we fought only against those who raised arms against us, and not the whole race.

"If Chin Peng and his friends fought against us, we fought them back. 

"That's why I told him (Myanmar defence minister) that we only fight people who raise arms, but do not target the whole ethnic group." -Mkini