PAS is very agreeable to having its president Abdul Hadi Awang become a witness for the proposed Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the Memali incident. 

"PAS is very agreeable (to suggestions) that our president be called (as a witness).

"(This will allow) him to prove statements on the truth behind the incident and matters related to the (proposed) RCI," said PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan in a statement today. 

He added that the party hoped that the RCI on the Memali incident could be created as soon as possible.

Takiyuddin said PAS also agreed with a statement made by DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang on April 2, 2014 which called for an RCI on the Memali incident to be formed, and listed out nine potential witnesses. 

The nine potential witnesses and their roles at the material time are: Dr Mahathir Mohamad (prime minister), Musa Hitam (deputy prime minister), Hanif Omar (inspector-general of police), Mohd Amin Osman (acting IGP), Rais Yatim (information minister), Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (deputy home affairs minister), Sanusi Junid (Umno secretary-general), Tunku Muszaffar Shah (Baling district police chief) and Muhamad Yusof Husin (senator). 

Meanwhile, Takiyuddin said the party was of the opinion that former IGP Rahim Noor had "interfered" with the proposed RCI. 

"PAS believes that the former IGP’s statement on who should be called as witnesses for the RCI was premature.

"A former top cop like himself should not try to interfere with the RCI which is supposed to be an independent body with the purpose of seeking justice without fear or favour," said Takiyuddin.

He was referring to Rahim's claim that Hadi would be implicated by an RCI because the latter's famous 1981 speech - better known as "Amanat Hadi (Hadi's address)" - had influenced PAS members that clashed with police personnel during the Memali incident in 1985.

Takiyuddin added that the party also took the views of former Baling district police chief Tunku Muszaffar Shah Tunku Ibrahim, as expressed in his book "Memali: A Policeman Remembers", seriously. 

In particular, PAS was referring to page 77 of the book which read: 

"Orders should not be accepted by the top officers at Bukit Aman, even if the orders given were from their political master. When the order given is not in line with police norms and procedures, and when it is a tall and ridiculous order to be implemented by the officers on the ground, it should be firmly rejected."

PAS had renewed calls for an RCI to be formed on the Memali incident following the Nothing to Hide 2 forum on Aug 13, which saw Mahathir speaking about the affair in response to a question from the audience. 

Hadi claimed that a fight broke out at the forum because the audience was unhappy with Mahathir's answer. This was rubbished by Mahathir's supporters but it prompted PAS leaders to seek an RCI to put the Memali incident to rest.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has indicated that Putrajaya is interested in the idea.

Read our KiniGuide: Dusting off history books on Memali tragedy