Najib rally: Mat Sabu, Puad criticise PAS over 'theatrics'

Summary

• Amanah president Mohamad Sabu claims PAS' rally for former premier Najib Abdul Razak was only a political act.

• He warns Muslims to not fall for PAS’ theatrics again and points out the Islamist party's history of changing tunes.

• Umno's Mohd Puad Zarkashi believes PAS failed to mobilise thousands for the rally as its members could see it was only a political ploy.

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PAS' solidarity rally for jailed former premier Najib Abdul Razak on Monday was only a political act by the Islamist party, said two government party leaders.

In a statement, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu said he believes PAS' support for the jailed Umno leader is temporary and only to serve its political interests.

Mohamad (above) said PAS religious leaders used to preach to the party members that Umno was not only a political adversary but also considered an infidel.

"But surprisingly, after PAS left its cooperation with DAP and PKR, they made a pact with Umno under the Muafakat Nasional banner.

“This time, PAS leaders branded their new pact with Umno as a gift from Allah.

"So, all this time they were calling Umno 'kafir' (infidel), holding separate prayers (from Umno members) and such, even to the extent that some cases ended up in court, all were only for political mileage and not really about Islamic belief.

"Thus, to Amanah members and all Muslims in this country, do not fall for PAS’ theatrics again - because everything they say is only an act and they can change their tune any time they want," Mohamad said on Facebook this morning.

For the record, Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, was a former PAS deputy president. Mohamad left the party to form Amanah after his camp was rejected by the conservatives in 2015.

Adding further, he warned Umno and Najib to be wary of PAS, saying that it is not impossible for the Islamist party to abandon them in the future.

"When PAS expresses its support for Najib today, it is only their theatrics to gain the support of the Malays. It's not impossible that one day, they abandon Najib when he no longer suits their political interest,” said the agriculture and food security minister.

Why support Najib now?

In a separate statement, Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi claimed that PAS failed to mobilise a huge number for the Monday rally because its members could see that it was only political theatrics by PAS leaders.

He also emphasised that PAS had never championed Najib's freedom prior to the rally.

"Why were there not many PAS and Bersatu members joining the rally at the Palace of Justice? They purportedly wanted to mobilise some 10,000 people, but according to media reports, there were only some 900 including Umno members who always showed up to support Najib during his trial.

"Because PAS members know that this is only a play by their leaders. (Because) PAS has never fought for Najib's freedom in its agenda. PAS had even used Najib to attack Umno.

"They (PAS members) did not show up not because of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's decree. Instead, this time, they did not solidly follow PAS leaders' instructions because it is only theatrics," the Johor state assembly speaker said.

What anti-graft stand?

Meanwhile, in another statement, Puad chided Federal Territories Bersatu secretary Mahathir Mohd Rais, who claimed yesterday that former premier Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's absence from the rally was to uphold Perikatan Nasional's anti-corruption principle.

He pointed to the Jana Wibawa corruption investigation against Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, and Muhyiddin's son-in-law Muhammad Adlan Berhan who fled the country.

"What principle did he have when Muhyiddin allowed his son-in-law to flee the country? None of Najib's children has fled.

"Ridiculous. If Muhyiddin was really holding onto his principles, he should have objected to PAS joining the rally.

“Not only did he fail to control PAS, he was also ashamed to join the rally,” Puad said.

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