PAS must not hide behind a police report but face instead face-up to allegations that it has ties with militant groups, says Penang Amanah chief Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

His statement comes after Penang PAS lodged the report against him for alleging they have links to IS and the Al-Maunah militant groups.

“The police report against me by the Penang PAS secretary and the Penang PAS supporters’ wing shows they are unable to face the issue in a gentlemanly and forward manner,” he said in a statement.

“They hide behind a police report because they are unable to debate me on what I meant, on extremism.

“They fail to understand that extremism is rooted in ideology,” he said.

Amanah leaders have of late been associating their former party, PAS, with foreign militant groups.

Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub said this was just a reminder to all Islamic groups to be wary of such issues.