Defeated former PAS deputy chief Mohamed Sabu's said his political future is uncertain as he felt "chased out" at the party's 61st muktamar in Selangor last week.

 

He likened the situation at the muktamar in Selangor to "ethnic cleansing" only this time the targeted group was of professionals and pro-Pakatan leaders who contested in the party's biannual polls.

 

Mat Sabu and his faction were wiped out at the polls by the more conservative and hardline ulama faction aligned to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang ( photo ).

 

Mohamed, popularly known as Mat Sabu, said he will make a decision on his future in PAS after the Hari Raya celebrations.

 

He will be reflecting deeply about the matter and consulting his supporters and grass roots during Ramadan, which begins tomorrow.

 

He also said discussions are going on regarding how professionals can contribute to the struggle for change, and this includes the possibility of forming new party.

 

Mat Sabu said he has three options - to continue in PAS as an ordinary member, to actively join an NGO or to consider joining a new setup in line with the spirit of Pakatan.

 

"I have lost several times in the elections before. I only managed to win the deputy chief post after two attempts but even when I lost in the past, I continued to be active in PAS as winning or losing is a normal process," he told Malaysiakini in an interview in Butterworth today.

 

"This time however I felt that the outcome of the party polls was odd and strange," said the former Penang PAS commissioner.

 

"Many of those who won and elected into the central committee are those only active at district or state level, usually those who won are quite popular nationally. Even I do not know who they are in this new lineup," he quipped.

 

Mat Sabu said he felt as if the professionals or pro Pakatan leaders who contested for posts in PAS has been chased away by the party delegates, engineered by the top leadership.

 

"Indeed, this is a very sad episode," he brooded.

 

'Mistake to work with Umno'

Mat Sabu said it would definitely be a mistake for PAS to work with Umno as the people would never support the idea as the time has come for multiracial politics.

 

He attributed his popularity to his politics and personality which are accepted by all communities including members of DAP and PKR.

 

He is perplexed as to why PAS wants to give life to Umno when the party is breaking apart and losing relevance, especially now when there is intense infighting between former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad ( photo ) and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

 

"Umno used hudud to break up Pakatan, knowing very well DAP would be against its implementation," said the former Pokok Sena MP.

 

"An officer from the Prime Minister's Department kept pressuring Hadi to table the private members bill in Parliament," Mat Sabu claimed.

 

"Umno is never really interested in implementing hudud and this is evident from the fact that Hadi's private members bill was tabled but had no chance to be debated in Parliament," he said.

 

"Even Hadi knows that. He is in Tokyo today although it is the last day of Parliament proceedings."

 

Mat Sabu said whichever platform he chose in the future, he will continue to fight Umno to its death.

 

He said Umno cannot be allowed to govern as it cannot guarantee the country's security anymore.

 

"They can find me no matter where I am to arrest me but they do not know about the 139 Rohingya graves in Wang Kelian, Perlis? And they cannot stop tourists and locals being kidnapped in Sabah?" he queried.