SHAH ALAM, July 6 — Khalid Samad announced today a new name for the group of PAS progressives that had dubbed themselves G18 ousted in party elections last month, as the membership has grown from the original 18.
The Shah Alam MP said the group wants to be known as “Gerakan Harapan Baru”, which roughly translates to “Movement of a New Hope”.
He also said the group has yet to decide if it will form a new political party, adding that they would wait for the 100-day deadline they had given the PAS central leadership to respond to their previous demands before taking the next step.
“If they do not respond by September 14, then we have to go through with the new agenda,” Khalid told reporters.
The group of 18 PAS progressives seen to have close links with allies DAP and PKR had previously urged their party central leadership to reaffirm their commitment to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) federal opposition alliance.
“Our goals remain to create a solid and strong coalition, honest in colluding to defeat Barisan Nasional,” Khalid said.
Khalid accused the current PAS leadership of straying from the ideals espoused by former president, the late Datuk Fadzil Noor and former spiritual leader, the late Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.
“PAS is trying to be more Malay, so those who lost trust in Umno will get attracted by PAS. If you want to be more Malay, you have to pick a fight with DAP. Maybe that is the philosophy that is trending in PAS,” said Khalid.
Last month, the group confirmed that they are in talks to form a new political party centred on Islamic principles, but will have “nothing to do” with lobby group Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa).
PasMa had previously reiterated that it will remain as an internal pressure group in PAS, but will help lead the effort to form a new Islamic party to replace PAS in a new federal opposition pact with PKR and DAP.
