SELLING a pact with Umno to party members may be the agenda of the day at the PAS congress this year, but that did not not stop party leaders from poking fun at their arch rivals last night.
Or likening them to the devil.
“If the devil offers help to Islam’s warriors, we should accept it,” PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said, quoting the party’s late spiritual leader, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.
“Members asked why we accepted Umno’s help in Seri Setia. But it would be odd if we rejected their offer,” said Tuan Ibrahim, who said he was surprised to find himself campaigning alongside Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in that by-election.
Information chief Nasaruddin Hassan Tantawi described Umno’s willingness to work with PAS as a “triumph” for the party.
Youth chief Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi said the last elections was historic not just because PAS had recaptured Terengganu after 14 years but because Umno had lost power.
“Before GE14, we could never have dreamed that Umno would lose Putrajaya. But it has. As such, it’s not impossible for us to win Putrajaya in the next elections too,” he said.
PAS delegates will meet to debate party issues and president Abdul Hadi Awang’s policy speech today. The topic of working with Umno is expected the dominate the debate.
At the Youth meeting yesterday, delegates rejected a motion that supported political cooperation with Umno.
Paving the way
Jokes notwithstanding, PAS leaders did not lose track of their purpose – to justify PAS’ cooperation with Umno to party members .
“For 60 years, we have fought Umno because it did not strengthen Islamic principles when it was in power. But Umno has no more power today and that responsibility has fallen on the new government,” said Tuan Ibrahim
“So if the new government fails to uphold Islam too, It is our job to uphold Islam (with other willing parties).”
He did not downplay the rivalry between Umno and PAS but urged the PAS faithful to “forgive” their arch rivals, even though it was true that PAS had suffered when Umno was in power.
“But God teaches us to hate the sin and not the sinner as the sinner can change. People ask if we have forgotten Umno’s sins – we ask if they have forgotten Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s mistakes.
Hee said PAS was willing to open its doors to Umno and other parties that will uphold Islamic governance.
Fiery religious speaker Nasaruddin said it would not be the first time PAS worked with Umno or another party.
“We had similarly opened the door to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and his party Semangat 46 and subsequently Anwar Ibrahim who formed PKR.
“And while we broke ties with PKR after they reneged on our agreement, PAS did not lose anything.
“In fact, after we broke off with DAP, many members who had left came back to the party,” he said.
He reminded the more than 1,000 members at the ceramah that the PAS mandate included bringing “lost sheep” back to Islam.
The party information chief said PAS was ready to open its doors to Umno as it was willing to listen to the Islamist party after losing power.
“It was fated that Umno would lose and they are now willing to sit down with us and listen to us. We want to open our doors to them.”
Nasaruddin was explaining to the party faithful why the party intends to cooperate with its long time rival and why they should bury the hatchet for the sake of Islam.
“I understand your feelings about this as they are our oldest enemy. But we must set aside our hatred for them for the sake of Islam. – September 15, 2018.
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