Thursday 30 Jan 2025
By
main news image

KUALA LUMPUR: Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa), the splinter group from PAS, will work together with the G18 group and other Muslim non-governmental organisations in forming a new party to replace PAS in Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan).

Its president, Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi, said only one party would be set up to form a new alliance after PAS severed ties with DAP at its recent muktamar.

“We will join the G18 and other Islamic NGOs to form a new party to replace PAS and to form a new alliance,” Phahrolrazi told The Malaysian Insider.

The G18 refers to the 18 PAS leaders, dubbed the progressives, who were ousted in the party elections recently.

Phahrolrazi explained that the new party would not only be working with DAP, as reported by the media, but also with PKR.

“We have had several meetings with G18 to discuss the matter. God willing, we will make an announcement after Hari Raya,” he added.

The G18 has formed an action committee to develop a new platform based on political Islam that is truly inclusive and engaging following the failure of PAS to do so.

The group is discussing its options with many NGOs and individual leaders to join it in the struggle for a more inclusive movement for Malaysians.

PasMa is one of the NGOs that will work with the G18, but will remain as an NGO even if its leaders join the new party, Phahrolrazi said.

The G18 was formed after DAP and PKR officially announced recently that the Pakatan coalition had ceased to exist, as there was no longer collaboration between DAP and PAS.

This followed PAS’ motion to cut ties with DAP at its annual general assembly in Kuala Selangor earlier this month and DAP’s demand that PAS members vacate their government posts in the Penang government.

Pakatan’s death, however, will not affect the running of the Penang and Selangor state governments, which have politicians from DAP, PKR and PAS.

The G18 is reportedly planning a nationwide roadshow and will be seriously advocating its campaign for the politics of “Harapan Baru” or “The New Hope and Dream” after the Hari Raya celebrations.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, in referring to the G18’s plans, warned that the group would eventually drown. He drew on examples of previous PAS splinter groups.

“Whoever follows or reads PAS’ history will see waves and twists in its struggles and the loss of its highest leader, members and supporters individually, drowned with parties and associations which became their vehicles.” — The Malaysian Insider

 

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on June 24, 2015.

      Print
      Text Size
      Share