PAS supporters who support Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB), the splinter party of PAS, can leave the party if they wish but don’t create any disturbance.

 

“If any of members want to join GHB, they can do so. What can we say? That is their choice as they have their own views which are different from PAS,” said Penang state commissioner Fauzi Mohd Yusof.

 

“So leave if you want. But don’t provoke the PAS family, It’s a democracy, anyone can leave and form a new party,” he told reporters when met at the party’s Aidilfitri celebration in Pongsu Seribu, Kepala Batas, today.

 

GHB was formed by 18 PAS leaders - deem the professionals or progressives - including its popular former deputy chief Mohamed Sabu - who were recently defeated in the party’s internal polls in June.

 

GHB leaders are planning to form a political party by taking over the registration of Parti Kita, a splinter PKR party led by former PKR leader Zaid Ibrahim, which is currently inactive.

 

Fauzi said GHB does not seem to have much impact on the ground in Penang as new members for PAS had increased by 6,000 nationally.

 

“The community is beginning to see GHB for what it really is, and we will continue to publicise PAS to the people,” he said. 

 

“As we have registered more members, it shows that after our muktamar, people are more confident with PAS,” he added.

 

'Cutting ties'

The PAS 61st muktamar held in Selangor in early June saw its delegates accept, without debate, a resolution from the ulama council to sever ties with DAP for cutting ties with president Abdul Hadi Awang over his move to table hudud in Parliament.

 

Following this, DAP announced that Pakatan no longer existed in its present form, and defeated PAS leaders held nation-wide roadshows to inform their members about the plan to form a new party to replace PAS in a new opposition coalition.

 

But Fauzi said PAS will continue to work with all parties, NGOs, the civil society and grassroots.

 

He said PAS has been explaining to its grassroots about the developments in the party, and why they must continue to support PAS even though GHB leaders have been trying to woo its members.

 

Also invited and in attendance were Umno division heads - Musa Sheikh Fadzir (Bukit Mertajam), Mohd Zaidi Said (Permatang Pauh) and Shabudin Yahya, who is MP for Tasek Gelugor.

 

When asked, Musa ( photo ) declined to comment, saying “It is Hari Raya, my lips are sealed”.

 

PAS sole assemblyperson Salleh Man arrived after Umno leaders had left the PAS state headquarters. 

 

He said in the past, Umno leaders were not invited to the party’s do but “This is the new leadership”.

 

On the possibility of him joining GHB, Salleh said “Let it become an official party first, we will see”.

 

The emcee announced that about 3,000 people attended the event, adding this meant the party was still relevant. Let us capture Penang, let’s not just talk only but offer prayers to see it happen.”