KUALA SELANGOR, June 6 — Outspoken PAS lawyer and outgoing central committee member Mohamed Hanipa Maidin today broke down on stage while delivering his last speech as the party’s Legal and Human Rights Committee (Luham) chief.

At the start of his speech, the usually jovial Sepang MP chronicled his early days in the Islamist party and how he was almost stripped off his student scholarship after he attended a religious talk by a former PAS president.

“I have many sweet memories… many types of experience in Luham.

“I actually joined PAS when I was in school... I still remember in 1986, I was apprehended by my headmaster when I went out to hear a PAS president’s speech and was called up to have disciplinary action taken against me and have my scholarship revoked

“I debated with him then, and he told me that I would be better off as a PAS lawyer... I said I will and today I proved him right,” Hanipa said, adding that he has always felt proud for being called a PAS lawyer.

Midway through his speech, Hanipa began sobbing uncontrollably and new PAS Youth chief Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz walked over to the rostrum to hand him a box of tissues.

Hanipa then tried to compose himself while continuing, only to give up after he began stammering while holding back his tears.

“I’m sorry I can’t talk any more... I hope the next Luham can continue the leadership,” he added before walking away.

Hanipa lost his spot on the central working committee in the party polls this week, amidst hostile response from PAS delegates against his criticism of PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.