PAS' New Hope (Harapan Baru) and their comrades in DAP and PKR will hold a mass gathering in Perlis on the third day of Raya to kick off the momentum towards the formation of a new opposition entity.

The gathering is expected to feature PAS leaders such as Mohamad Sabu and other progressive or professional leaders who were defeated at the party's internal elections in Selangor in early June.

Their posts were filled by the more conservative and hardline ulama faction aligned to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu ( photo ), said the gathering is the first of many roadshows to be held after the Aidil Fitri celebrations, which would most likely begin on July 18.

"The gathering is to build the momentum for a new Pakatan or coalition which we have promised earlier.

"The promise of a new coalition is a reality not a fantasy.

"We will be going state to state to explain to the people why the new coalition is important and necessary. We will also explain how the new coalition will be like," Mat Sabu said when met at the Butterworth court complex today.

Focus on economic issues

The decision to form a new opposition coalition was hatched after PAS, at its 61st muktamar early last month, passed a motion to sever ties with DAP.

PAS delegates endorsed the proposal by the Dewan Ulama, after DAP cut ties with Hadi following his Private Members Bill on hudud that was filed in Parliament.

The DAP then announced that Pakatan in its present form - with PAS and PKR - is dead .

The DAP and certain quarters in PAS are also not comfortable with Hadi's willingness to work with Umno to implement  hudud in Kelantan and other states.

Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng ( photo ) had said the new coalition would focus on economic issues to improve the lives of Malaysians.

However, it is still not certain how the new coalition would deal with PAS when it comes to placing candidates for seats in the 14th general election, which should be due by May 2018.