AT least seven former PAS branch leaders in Jerlun, Kedah, have left the party quietly to join Bersatu, shunning splinter party Amanah for fear of being labelled as infidels or traitors.

They told The Malaysian Insight they rather join Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) instead of Amanah, as they may be shunned by PAS members even at community events.

Former Jerlun Youth leader Irwan Mahmud, who joined the Air Hitam branch, said he left PAS because he was unhappy with the party’s direction.

“But I can’t join Amanah. If I did that, I would face all kinds of harassment by staunch PAS supporters. I would be shunned and cursed by them,” said Irwan.

“As such, I decided to join Bersatu. Moreover, I have noticed that Bersatu is very strong in Kedah,” the 36-year-old told The Malaysian Insight.

For Irwan, PAS has strayed from the principles set out by one of its former presidents, Dr Fadzil Muhammad Noor.

The current PAS, said Irwan, prefers to work with Umno instead of working with other opposition parties.

“Most of the current PAS leaders today are rhetorical religionists. They claim to fight for Islam but, in reality, their work does not reflect it,” said Irwan.

The current PAS resembles Umno more than an opposition party, he added.

While Umno calls those against them “traitors to the Malay race”, PAS labels those who have left the Islamist party as “traitors of Islam”.

“It’s impossible for us to join Amanah as PAS has successfully created the myth that those who do so are DAP’s lapdogs.

“If I had joined Amanah, not only would I not get invited to community events, even at the surau, I would be turned away.”

According to former Kedah information director Zulkifli Yahaya, the phenomenon of PAS members joining Bersatu is happening everywhere.

“These former PAS members are afraid to join Amanah,” said Zulkifli.

He said besides being attracted to Bersatu, the former PAS members wanted to work with Mukhriz Mahathir.

Amanah Kedah chairman Dr Ismail Salleh said many former PAS members told him the same thing.

“Many said they were afraid to join Amanah because they feared retribution from other PAS members. But they said they will not vote for PAS in the next elections,” said Ismail, who was a former Kedah executive councillor when PAS ruled Kedah from 2008-2013. – July 18, 2017.