Gerakan has become DAP's mouthpiece: Penang PAS Youth leader

Tensions between PAS and Gerakan continue to simmer, with Penang PAS Youth calling for the latter to quit Perikatan Nasional.

Accusing Gerakan of becoming “DAP’s mouthpiece”, Penang PAS Youth deputy chief Muhammad Hafiz Alias said Gerakan is a liability to PN as its leaders’ actions on various issues involving alcohol and gambling mirror that of DAP leaders.

“DAP was like this during the Pakatan Rakyat era. Back then, it was the gambling issue. Is Gerakan deliberately playing dumb despite us (PAS) explaining (the party’s stance) multiple times?

“We want to stop the Muslims from indulging in forbidden vices that Islam prohibits,” Hafiz said in a video on TikTok.

He cited Gerakan’s opposition to the Kedah state government’s move to ban gambling.

Hafiz elaborated that it is problematic when Gerakan’s stance is the same as DAP’s on issues that matter.

“Gerakan has become DAP’s mouthpiece. If PAS wants to be with Gerakan but Gerakan behaves like DAP, then what’s the use of PAS fighting alongside the party?” he asked.

Threat to split?

Of late, there has been an open war of words between PAS and Gerakan over the role of brewery companies in facilitating fundraising events for Chinese schools.

On Sunday, Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong said the party will not hesitate to quit PN if it means defending Chinese education.

Oh was responding to condemnations from PAS leaders such as those from its information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari and deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man on Chinese schools working with breweries to raise funds.

PAS mouthpiece Harakahdaily also deemed Gerakan’s stance to be the same as its enemy DAP.

Yesterday, Gerakan president Dominic Lau downplayed reported differences between his party and PAS, saying instead that the time has come to strengthen PN.

Gerakan ‘does nothing’

Hafiz cynically said that it “is better” for Gerakan to quit PN as the party allegedly hardly contributes, particularly in Penang.

According to him, Penang PAS Youth recently proposed in the party’s muktamar for Lau’s state PN chairperson position to be replaced with someone else.

“He doesn’t function as a chairperson, so there are no meetings, nothing. If there’s a by-election, only PAS and Bersatu contribute while Gerakan does nothing.

“If Gerakan wants to quit, go on. There are many others who can represent the Chinese (in Penang). We have Chinese and Indian representatives from the PAS non-Muslim supporters wing (DHPP), who are well-accepted by the people.

“Penang PAS Youth met yesterday and appointed a new DHPP youth wing chief. They are about to replace Gerakan’s role in representing the Chinese and Indians in PN,” Hafiz added.

Snubbed in Penang

This is not the first time Gerakan has traded barbs with its ally.

During last year’s state election, Lau was given the cold shoulder in a PAS event in Penang during a mega ceramah that was attended by the Islamist party’s big guns.

Despite the Gerakan’s exclusion from the event, Lau attended it, though he was not given any special recognition.

As other PN leaders took the stage, Lau stood with a group of PN supporters, anticipating an opportunity to greet PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

PAS vice-president and event speaker Idris Ahmad later acknowledged Lau but Iszuree Ibrahim, the state’s party secretary stopped the Gerakan president and only escorted Idris to the stage.

Although it was not specified why he was snubbed by the Penang PAS leaders, it was believed that Iszuree was rumoured to be the PN candidate for the Bayan Lepas state constituency but the coalition decided to field Lau instead.

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