THE usually sedate Ulama Council wing of PAS started its annual assembly on an unusually incendiary note, with an oath condemning its former members who formed the splinter party, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).

The declaration of “Jahanam PAN” (down with Amanah) reflects the deep-seated animosity felt by PAS towards Amanah which has complicated efforts to work with the latter’s allies in the Pakatan Harapan opposition coalition.

Amanah is a member of the four-party PH, which includes PKR, DAP and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. Bersatu and PKR leaders are working to forge a PH-PAS electoral pact to take on Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

The initiative has been stalled, as PAS leaders have stated they will not work with Amanah or DAP, or any of its partners.

At the start of the assembly’s proceedings, Kedah Ulama Council chief Mohd Rejab Mohd Akhir called on the audience to stand for the reading of an oath.

Rejab read out: “Jahanam PAN (down with Amanah)”, which was taken up by the delegates.

PAN is the acronym PAS uses for Amanah, which was formed in 2015 by some of the party’s best-known leaders and parliamentarians, who left after that year’s party elections.

The oath was met with shouts of “Allahu Akhbar” (God is great) from delegates at the Sekolah Rendah Darul Ulum in Alor Star, Kedah today. – April 27, 2017.