Four pro-establishment youth groups, led by former reformasi supporter Stephen Doss, urged PAS president Fadzil Mohd Noor to "restrain his followers" after the party had called for a jihad against the US.

"We urge you to restrain your followers as their actions, whether or not supported by yourself, will reflect badly on your party," said a memorandum jointly endorsed by the youth groups.

Last Tuesday, PAS secretary-general Nasharuddin Mohd Isa called for a jihad against the US following the allied forces' bombings on Afghanistan.

The groups, namely, Persatuan Pemuda Negara, Majlis Pelajar-pelajar Swasta, Persatuan Graduan Muda Malaysia and Barisan Muda Karyawan Malaysia gathered in front of PAS' Harakah office in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon to submit their memorandum to Fadzil.

No one to accept memo

Fadzil who is also the opposition leader and MP for Pendang was however attending a session in Parliament and could not meet with the groups' representatives.

Harakah 's officials however claimed that they could not accept the protest note on behalf of the party because they were only the party newspaper and did not represent the party leaders.

Thus, Doss who recently joined Gerakan, a party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, slipped a copy of the memorandum under the glass door at the entrance of the Harakah office.

In the memorandum, the group expressed their 'deep regret' on PAS' stand on the matter, stressing that 'an eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind'.

Support peace

"It is for this reason that the mature, rational nations and individuals of this world must propagate and support peace," the memorandum stated.

The youth groups also urged Fadzil and PAS to focus on peace initiatives to support the Afghan people without having the need to make "inflammatory statements bordering on rhetoric" on behalf of the Taliban regime.

According to them, for many years the Taliban has brought much suffering on the Afghan people.

"It is for this reason and more that many nations do not recognise the Taliban regime and we find no reason for PAS now to call for support for the Taliban," the memorandum added.

The groups also hoped that PAS will not "fall into the trap of these terrorists who are seeking moral authority for their atrocious attacks" in New York and Washington DC on Sept 11.

"Any form of support from your party for these terrorists will not solve the Palestinian problem, neither will any kind of war."

Pigeons and donation

During the gathering which was attended by about 20 youths, Doss with the assistance of one Harakah official, freed ten pigeons into the sky in a symbolic gesture urging for peace.

On behalf of the Persatuan Pemuda Negara of which he is the president, Doss also donated RM1000 to the Afghanistan refugee humanitarian fund.