Mat Sabu’s views on PAS mean nothing to us, says Hashim

 

PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin (left) said former party deputy president Mohamad Sabu was entitled to his own opinion.

PETALING JAYA: 

PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin has dismissed Amanah president Mohamad Sabu’s claim that the Islamic party flip-flops with its “political fatwas” to suit its own agenda.

Hashim said the views of Mohamad, a former PAS deputy president, was no longer relevant as the party had moved forward and grown significantly since his departure in 2015.

“His views are of no concern to PAS. He is entitled to his opinion, but it carries little weight compared with the impact of his departure from the party.

“Personally, I pray for him to find his way back to the right path,” Hashim told FMT.

Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, was with PAS for 37 years before leaving to form Amanah.

Hashim said PAS had gained greater support since Mohamad left the party, winning numerous parliamentary seats in the 15th general election (GE15) and securing control of four states – Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis.

Earlier today, Mohamad had ridiculed PAS’s show of support for former prime minister Najib Razak.

He said PAS had changed its stance on several occasions to suit its political needs, noting that it worked with DAP in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition before labelling the party anti-Islam after parting ways.

He also said that PAS once called Umno an enemy of Islam as well, but later worked with the party under the now-defunct Muafakat Nasional alliance.

Mohamad said PAS could abandon Najib if he became politically irrelevant and no longer benefitted the party.

PAS held a rally outside the Palace of Justice in solidarity with Najib on Monday, ahead of a court decision related to the house arrest addendum. The rally was also attended by several Bersatu leaders, including opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin.

Regarding PAS’s support for Najib, Hashim stressed that the party was not endorsing the former prime minister’s wrongdoings but was instead questioning the existence of the addendum.

“We see injustice and are standing up for the truth. Whatever happens next is beyond us. People will recognise that PAS’s actions are about upholding the truth,” he said.

In a 2-1 majority decision, the Court of Appeal allowed Najib to initiate a judicial review to compel the government to execute the supplementary decree purportedly allowing Najib Razak to serve his jail term under house arrest and adduce new evidence when the case’s merits are heard in the High Court. -FMT