In bid to replace PAS, new Islamist party to recruit young non-partisan political greenhorns

KUALA LUMPUR — Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB), the budding new Islamist movement by Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) progressives, wants to position itself as a viable replacement to PAS in the yet-to-be-formed “Pakatan 2.0” by seeking support from young Malay voters who have yet to find themselves a political platform.

Mr Mohamad Sabu, a leader of GHB, said there are many Malay youths out who are not attached to either the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) or PAS, and are yet to decide on their political allegiances.

These non-partisan political greenhorns, the former PAS deputy president added, would likely find GHB’s more inclusive ideological beliefs more attractive than those of UMNO’s or PAS’s.

“You must remember, the Muslims... only a very little portion is with UMNO and PAS now. So many are still out there like the students and young people.”

“They are waiting for this new party because for 30 years, the Islamic movement has lost its direction,” he told a recent interview with Malay Mail Online.

Mr Mat Sabu, said the new party to be formed soon by GHB would be founded on Islamic principles but would likely allow in non-Muslims as full, participating members unlike in PAS, whose non-Muslim members are not allowed to vote during the party polls.

The leader added, however, that details on membership for the new party have yet to be finalised.

“There is no problem. We are Islamic-based clearly. Even PAS also non-Muslims are no problem at all.”

“We have not discussed in detail on the membership but they, non-Muslims, are welcome,” he said.

Mr Mat Sabu explained that by being more open to the non-Muslims, GHB’s new party would likely be able to canvas support from non-Muslim voters during elections. He pointed out that even PAS has relied heavily on the non-Muslim vote.

Although yet to be launched, Mr Mat Sabu revealed that GHB members have been working round the clock to organise roadshows and talks to promote its new party.

He said the movement will also be launching a more concrete platform for its political plans on Friday (July 17) in Perlis.

With PAS and DAP no longer in cooperation and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) officially dead, Mr Mat Sabu said his allies in the DAP have been very supportive of GHB’s plans.

Mr Mat Sabu was one of the 18 PAS progressive leaders who were wiped out last month during the party’s muktamar. During the annual meet, PAS agreed to sever ties with the DAP over the fallout between leaders from both parties over issues like hudud.

The decision, which was formalised yesterday by PAS’s powerful Syura Council, was the trigger that led to PR’s demise and subsequently to the formation of GHB by the Islamist party’s ousted progressive faction.

“DAP the leaders are 100 per cent supporting us,” Mat Sabu said. “They (DAP) need a new party to be a part of a new coalition, Pakatan Baru,” he added.

On support from PKR, another PR ally, Mr Mat Sabu expressed hope that the party would offer its backing for GHB’s new party plans.

The leader acknowledged it would be an uphill climb for GHB, especially with the opposition front currently in tatters.

But he said he is still enthusiastic and believes that both DAP and PKR would agree to reunite as a single unit in a new opposition alliance.

During a recent meeting, DAP’s Teresa Kok named the new alliance “Pakatan 2.0”.

“We think we will get the support. I’ve had dialogues with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and civil societies, they have given us the support.

“It is going to be a mess for the time being but when it comes to the election, it will be no more. We are trying to work for a formal coalition. One day, we hope that we become one party,” a hopeful Mr Mat Sabu expressed. THE MALAY MAIL ONLINE