'Collateral damage' Zaid turns down PAS' offer, says even golf hurts

Summary

• Former minister Zaid Ibrahim has declined PAS’ offer to join the party, saying he is not as physically strong as Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is turning 100 this year.

• Zaid says his proposal for former Umno leader Khairy Jamaluddin to join PAS if the latter wishes to make a political comeback has drawn brickbats, with some calling him a “snake”.

• He adds that it is a party’s leaders who determine its future, not its political ideology, and even PAS could change with new leaders.

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has declined an offer to join PAS, acknowledging that at 73, he lacks the physical endurance of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who will be turning 100 this year.

“I appreciate the offer to let me join PAS, but unlike Tun M (Mahathir), I am not physically strong enough to roam the country. Even walking nine holes (on the golf course) is a struggle,” he said.

Yesterday, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said Zaid would be a more suitable candidate to join the Islamist party instead of former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

This was in response to Zaid suggesting that PAS is an option for Khairy if he wants to make a political comeback.

In a social media post this morning, the former minister said his proposal had attracted widespread attention and that he had become “collateral damage”.

“One fella, Goh, called me a snake. Others asked me to join PAS,” he added.

‘With right leaders, even PAS can change’

Zaid acknowledged his past criticism of PAS’ policies but believes that the party could evolve if it attracted “good leaders” like Khairy.

“It’s the leaders that determine the party’s future, not the ideology.

“I believe PAS, with some changes, can transform itself into an inclusive, responsible party with good policies for the country,” he added.

Zaid also believes that the “hatred shown by some quarters” towards PAS, which is often at the forefront of religious and racial issues, is unwarranted.

“If Umno can change from a democratic accommodative party in the 60s into what it is today, the reverse can happen to PAS; moving from an extreme position towards the middle ground. 

“It all depends on the leaders,” he added.

Previously, Malaysiakini reported that Sunway University political scientist Wong Chin Huat had described PAS as Khairy’s “worst option”.

“It is unclear whether his advice is meant as honey or poison,” Wong said, referring to Zaid’s proposal.

He argued that Khairy - who has been in the political wilderness since losing in the last general election and being sacked from Umno - would not only risk losing his centrist and, to some extent, multiethnic support base but would also struggle to gain traction within PAS due to his lack of Islamist credibility.

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