Let 'Anwarinas' in PAS form party, says Isma chief

The "Anwarinas" in PAS should be allowed to form their own party, said Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) chief Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman today.

 

"They have to prove that they can survive with their progressive and moderate mindset.

 

"They must also prove that they are not riding on PAS' Islamic image to market liberalism and championing the agendas of other parties," he was quoted as saying by Ismaweb.

 

Abdullah said this is because if they considered the mindset of PAS clerics to be extreme and chauvinistic, then they cannot accept the leadership of a cleric.

 

The Isma chief was commenting on reports that NGO Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa) might be turned into a political party to replace PAS in Pakatan Rakyat.

 

The Selangor menteri besar crisis, in which PKR is trying to replace Khalid Ibrahim, has caused massive fissures in PAS and strained ties between the Islamic party and its Pakatan allies.

 

It is also known that several of Anwar’s supporters and friends from his early days as leader of the Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) now hold key positions in PAS.