Umno, PAS hold first Muafakat Nasional state convention in Memali
Umno-PAS held their first Muafakat Nasional state convention and commemoration of Memali tragedy in Kampung Memali in Baling, Kedah on Nov 19, according to a report.
The event was attended by 3,000 members of both parties, villagers and the family members of those died in the Memali incident...
Umno-PAS held their first Muafakat Nasional state convention and commemoration of Memali tragedy in Kampung Memali in Baling, Kedah on Nov 19, according to a report.
The event was attended by 3,000 members of both parties, villagers and the family members of those died in the Memali incident.
Umno was represented by its vice-president Mahdzir Khalid and Supreme Council member Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim while PAS was represented by its vice-president Idris Ahmad.
The Malaysian Insight reported the event "signalled the start of a grassroots-based nationwide effort to gather public support for the opposition’s campaign to defeat the Pakatan Harapan government in the 15th general election".
Back in 2017, Pakatan Harapan did the same in its effort to build a mass movement against Umno and BN.
During the event, Mahdzir spoke about the cooperation between Umno-PAS which led to the landslide victory in the Nov 16 Tanjung Piai by-election where BN won with 15,086 majority votes.
“Many people from Kedah, including from Baling, went down to campaign in Tanjung Piai,” said Mahdzir.
“Tanjung Piai was the first step in the PAS-Umno journey, it represented the strength of the Muafakat Nasional," he said.
Rahimi Mat Ramli, 38, whose father was killed in the 1985 incident when he was four, said he could not forget the tragedy but felt no ill will towards anyone.
“It is good that Umno and PAS are together. As a survivor, I still remember Memali, but I don’t wish any revenge towards anyone, particularly Umno," he said.
Villager Rozali Ahmad, 60, who lost an uncle in the tragedy said he is happy to witness the unity between Umno and PAS.
“I am very happy to see PAS and Umno sitting together on the same stage. We were enemies before but now no more," he said.
Umno and PAS once became partners in the Alliance coalition in 1972 but PAS withdrew from the coalition five years later.
Following the 1979 Iranian revolution, religious conservatives within PAS became increasingly influential, and the rivalry with Umno took on a more religious tone as PAS leaders began branding Umno members as infidels.
The 1985 Memali tragedy left 18 people killed, including four police personnel, during a clash between villagers and security forces.
The police had wanted to arrest PAS member and preacher Ibrahim Mahmud, but the villagers protested over his arrest.
Baling PAS division chief Hassan Saad said the crowd this year was the biggest so far.
“The muafakat between PAS and Umno in Baling is strong despite the bitter tragedy between us," he said.
Religious teacher Mohd Yusud Abd Hamid said the presence of both Umno and PAS at the event proves that the two parties are now united.
“I hope this will prove that we will stand together on all issues, not just politics. In the muafakat, we cannot just depend on Umno and PAS only but everyone who is sincere in the struggle," said Yusud.
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