Cold reception forcing Harapan Baru to delay party launch, PAS veep claims

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — A PAS vice-president accused splinter group Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB) today of postponing its launch as a new political party due to weak grassroots support, subsequently predicting its early death.

Datuk Iskandar Abd Samad also told the group made of the Islamist party’s ousted progressive leaders that its main goal should be to topple Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) instead of destroying PAS, accusing it of poaching the latter’s members.

“I will not be surprised if the party’s launch is delayed once more if the public’s support is not encouraging,” Iskandar said in a statement.

“I will also not be surprised if the party’s formation is cancelled and the group remains as a non-governmental organisation.”

The Selangor PAS commissioner claimed that the formation of GHB’s new party has so far been pushed back twice from August to early September, and then to mid-September.

Yesterday, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said that the new political party spearheaded by GHB will be registered on September 14, and its first convention will be held two days later.

Earlier this month, Khalid told reporters that GHB members 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.

The 100-day deadline expires on September 14.

“If they want to add value to the national political landscape, poach those from Umno or BN, and not PAS members. Their main objective should be to topple Umno or BN and not to destroy PAS,” said Iskandar.

“Issues that they want to fight for such as inclusivity and approaching non-Muslims have long been in PAS. It is time to together strengthen PAS because Umno will cheer if there is a split in this party.”

GHB is a further step towards the formation of a substitute party to PAS in a new federal opposition pact.

Selangor PAS has since sacked all its members who are involved with the movement, despite the party’s national leadership saying that no action will be taken as long as there are no complaints lodged against them.

The PAS Ulama Wing has since warned its members to not be enticed by “satanic” invitations from the party’s ousted progressives to join their budding GHB, claiming the movement is fueled by “resentment”.

Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia also warned that the upcoming party will only serve to divide the Malay community politically and will not do any good for the development of the ethnic community.