PENANG BN's candidate Mazlan Ismail has recruited Anwar Ibrahim's "former close friends" to help him seize Permatang Pauh in the coming general polls, which falls on May 5.

NONE The so-called friends - academician Sidek Baba and Islamic analyst Aidit Ghazali - have joined hands with former PAS Gombak Setia assemblyperson Hasan Ali ( right ) to give Anwar a bashing at Taman Pauh last night.

A 1,000-strong crowd attended the event dubbed 'Ceramah Perdana Bekas Sahabat-Sahabat Karib Anwar', hosted by ex-Penang PAS Youth chief Hafiz Noordin.

The three-hour event, organised by Muslim NGO Jati, saw Anwar's so-called ex-friends urge voters there to back Mazlan, a former Telekom Malaysia Berhad director, instead of the fallen former deputy prime minister.

Mazlan said Anwar has deserted the people of Permatang Pauh during the election campaign, as he has been travelling around the country giving ceramahs outside his home state since nomination on April 20.

"Before this, his wife, former Permatang Pauh MP Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had neglected the constituency from 1999 to 2008, after which, Anwar left it for another five years, " he added.

NONE "This behaviour is not right, don't tell me he cannot spend 15 days of the campaign period with the people who gave him so many votes?” asked Mazlan ( left ), a PAS member for 14 years before he quit to join Umno.

Mazlan told the people to query their MP when he returns to Permatang Pauh on May 3: "Are our votes too small for you compared with those in Miri, Perak and Johor?".

"You will then know the answer," he quipped, telling the crowd that if he wins the seat, he would organise a thanksgiving prayer at 10pm on May 5 after the results are announced.

"We will then send Anwar to be a lecturer as he has said he would retire if he loses in the election," Mazlan added.

Mazlan vowed to serve the people of Permatang Pauh well regardless from which community they came, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.

Not meant to disgrace Anwar

Anwar and Mazlan are locked in a three-cornered fight with independent candidate Dr Abdullah Zawawi Samsudin, a medical doctor.

Before Anwar's friends spoke, Hafiz denied that they were here to "disgrace" Anwar.

"But since he continues his agenda of promoting ideologies which deviates from Islam, such as religious liberalism and pluralism, his (former) close friends are here to tell you how dangerous he can be," said Hafiz.

When his turn came to speak, Hasan, a former Selangor state executive councillor, condemned Anwar as the "most dangerous person in the country".

He said even PAS delegates at its Muktamar last year had rejected his assuming the post of the seventh prime minister, should Pakatan Rakyat take over Putrajaya.

"Up to today, only DAP and PKR want him to become PM. If PAS rejects him, I am not sure whether he can take up the post or not," said Hassan.

Qaradawi's letter dismissed

Hasan dismissed the pamphlet carrying an open letter from prominent international Sunni cleric Yusuf Qaradawi, endorsing Anwar as candidate for prime minister.

NONE The campaign to distribute the flyers nationwide was launched by PAS spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

"Qaradawi lives in Qatar, he does not know what is happening in Permatang Pauh, Pengerang, or Balik Pulau," Hasan said.

"If the pamphlet is distributed to your flats, please light a matchstick and burn it," he told the audience, which broke into applause.

Hasan then told the crowd that Jati, in the name of "Islam, Melayu (Malay) and Raja (King)", has resolved to support the BN in the elections, Malaysia's 13th since 1959.

He then criticised PKR for not having a master plan to guide its struggle, adding that it was merely focused on propelling Anwar to the prime minister's seat.

He also castigated his former party for allowing Anwar to be the man behind its decision, resulting in the true meaning of Islam being undermined.

"How can we allow a sodomite to be the PM of this country? It is embarrassing," he said.

He accused DAP leaders of being active in Christianity, reminding the crowd of his allegations that systematic proselytising involving some 10,000 Muslims is ongoing.

"You must put your hopes on Mazlan and support him to save Islam (from being attacked)," he said.