Pro-Hadi group walks out on Mat Sabu's speech

 

MUKTAMAR Some 50 PAS Youth delegates staged a walkout from the wing's muktamar when party deputy president Mohamad Sabu delivered his speech.

The delegates, who wore black vests which read, "We are with the president and Syura Council", immediately left the hall as soon as Mohamad took the stage at 4.42pm.

Before that, PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat had delivered his policy speech for almost 90 minutes.

Mohamad Sabu, popularly known as Mat Sabu, is at odds with party president Abdul Hadi Awang and PAS clerics over the Selangor menteri besar issue.

His recent remarks in an interview with Malaysiakini, asking for the party's religious clerics to reform themselves to remain relevant also created dissatisfaction among conservative groups.

The delegates, who staged the walkout, lingered outside the Choon Moi Hall as Mohamad delivered his speech.

Several of the delegates clad in the pro-Hadi vests refused to comment when approached.

However, a Johor division delegate, who disapproved of the stunt but did not want to be named, told Malaysiakini they were led by Terengganu delegates.

A text message has since circulated among PAS delegates about the incident which read: "All the Terengganu gang in special vests 'we are with PAS president and Syura Council' stood up and left the muktamar hall."

"They were followed by some delegates from Pahang, Selangor and the Federal Territories. It is poor attitude shown by members of PAS, an Islamic movement. It is clearly a planned move,” added the message sighted by Malaysiakini.

However, the group was only a small part of the over 700 delegates present at the muktamar, who were generally supportive and cheered at Mohamad's speech.

In his speech Mohamad repeated the contents of his interview with Malaysiakini, stressing PAS' Islamic credentials alone is no longer enough as voters also look at performance.

He stressed how the clerics' loss of focus led to people supporting Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a staunch secularist who did away with the Islamic system of governance in Turkey.

"It took more than 100 years before Islamic culture could be reintroduced," he said.

Salahuddin: This should not have happened

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, when approached by journalists, said he would wait for PAS Youth's report on the matter.

"I did not manage to see (the incident) as I was seated in the front row.

"It is something that should not have happened especially in this atmosphere where PAS Youth is showing how great it is," he said.

Salahuddin also defended Mohamad's urging for the party's clerics to reform themselves.

"I have read Mat Sabu's interview in Malaysiakini, he stated that the capability of clerics must also consider the factors around them if PAS is to move forward.

"I did not see, after reading it, any line that belittled the leadership of clerics," he said.

Mohamad Sabu: Maybe they went to pray

Mohamad and Suhaizan, during a joint press conference later played, down the walkout incident.

"I did not see, perhaps they wanted to go pray or do some other things and return later, it's normal," said the deputy president.

"I think that is the case, because it was getting late and some had to pray," added Suhaizan.

When pressed about the vests the delegates wore in support of Hadi and the Syura Council, Mohamad said it was "normal".

"They can wear whatever they want... I am certain PAS Youth did not determine the dress code," he said.

Asked if the vests were a sign of protest, he replied: "No, no."