DETRACTORS have chastised PAS for being oblivious or insensitive over the global energy crisis by having mooted a motorcycle convoy event led by the Menteri Besar (MB) of four PAS-ruled states, namely Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu.
Held in conjunction with the Fifth International Ummah Unity Assembly alongside the Malay World 2026 Gathering at the Terengganu State Sports Complex in Kuala Nerus, the event attracted brickbats after PAS-loyal Pasir Puteh Today claimed in a Facebook post that “more than 100,000 attended this morning’s convo (gathering)”.
“Wow! It was incredibly vibrant. Since the morning, the rakyat headed in convoy to attend the prime lecture which brought together Tan Sri Hadi Awang, Dr Zakir Naik, the Iranian ambassador and (popular preacher) Ustaz Azhar Idrus,” added opposition-slant digital creator Hanisya Abd Hamid in her FB page.
“This is proof that the rakyat have become savvier and are no longer easily fooled by cheap propaganda of enemies who tried labelling this programme as wasting petrol.”
Flagged off at Dataran Batu Buruk, participants travelled for about 10km on their bikes to the event venue yesterday (April 4) with PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden full of praises “for the young who willingly sacrifice their own pocket money” to support the ummah unity gathering.
“What a lively mood! Even without having to lure them with money, without giving them fuel money or without T-shirts, thousands of youngsters from every corner of the state showed up in a motorcycle convoy,” the A lot Setar MP penned on his Facebook page.
Terengganu MB Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar described the convoy as “not just a journey on the road but a symbol of our journey as one ummah”.
“We gathered at this event because we want to bring a clear message that when we’re united, we’ll be strong,” he enthused in a FB post.
There’s no difference in state, background or race but there is only one purpose which is to strengthen brotherhood and a shared future.”
However, the bike convoy event has come under fire from Madani backers as being insensitive to the global oil prices environment.
Firing the first salvo was Amanah vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar who berated the PAS event for portraying “an immature, insensitive and irresponsible attitude”.
“Even more embarrassing, this convoy involved four MBs from states that still depend on Federal government assistance,” fumed the former four-term Pokok Sena MP.
“The question is simple: How can leaders who still need central assistance openly encourage the waste of public subsidies? The right hand asks for central assistance, the left hand burns public subsidies.”
Added Mahfuz who was a PAS member himself before joining Amanah which is deemed to be a splinter party of the former:
This shows they don’t understand the global crisis; don’t respect the hardships of the people and are willing to sabotage the national message for narrow political interests.
More ironically, Islam itself clearly prohibits wastage. However, PAS today seems to have chosen to set aside this principle for the sake of political perception.The fact is that the fuel burned in the convoy is heavily subsidised. Every kilometre of the convoy is the rakyat’s money wasted.
The government calls on the rakyat to save for the country’s future. The opposition on the other hand encourages the rakyat to waste for political interests. – Focus Malaysia
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