SEBERANG PERAI, July 8 — Former PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said he will now concentrate on plans for the movement of PAS progressives dubbed “Gerakan Harapan Baru” after he was cleared today of criminal defamation.
Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, said the movement is no longer a mere “fantasy” but a reality, noting that it already has events lined up in the coming days.
“We will start with a large gathering on the third day Raya in Perlis,” he told reporters outside the courtroom here after the judge delivered the verdict to acquit him.
Gerakan Harapan Baru, which in English means “a movement of new hope”, is the new name for the group of PAS progressives that had previously dubbed themselves G18.
The G18 was ousted during the Islamist party’s elections last month. Since then, its membership has expanded beyond the original 18 leaders.
Two days ago, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said the new movement is yet to decide on plans to form a new political party.
They group has given the PAS central leadership a 100-day deadline to respond to their demand that the party reaffirms its commitment to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) federal opposition alliance.
The alliance was declared dead on June 16 by the DAP after PAS decided during its June 6 muktamar to sever ties with its PR ally.
