1,500 attend PAS function to launch polls machinery

BY FARID JAMALUDIN

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS launched its election machinery at Wisma Angkasa here yesterday before a gathering of more than 1,500 division leaders from all over the country. 

The party will also be using the blueprint on its Islamic state concept as part of its manifesto for the coming general election. 

All key leaders including the division's Number Ones and Number Twos, Youth and Wanita chiefs, treasurer, information chief from more than its 150-odd divisions nationwide were summoned to the special election briefing held “behind close doors.” 

PAS acting president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang told a press conference that PAS would have to gear up for the elections because it did not have the luxury to decide on it. 

“It could be held anytime and PAS would not want to be caught in that situation although it is ready at all times,” he said. 

However, he said there were signs that the elections were just round the corner and cited the withdrawing of a bankruptcy order against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. 

“I see this as a positive sign that the PM would call for elections soon,'' he said. 

He said PAS was now drawing out pacts with the NGOs to win the election. 

“We believe that the current issues created by Umno are issues which could blow up in its own face,” he claimed, naming the Pulau Batu Puteh, the religious schools and English for science and mathematics issues. 

To a question that the DAP would not be joining the opposition pact and PAS would find it difficult to lure the Chinese to its cause, Hadi said “Let us not make statements but work harder towards realising it.” 

He also said that PAS would be distributing booklets on its Islamic state concept to the public perhaps “before the election.” 

“It is now ready and waiting to be distributed,” he said. 

He said he admitted that it would not be easy to defeat the Barisan Nasional machinery but victories in Kelantan and Terengganu during the last election showed that it could be done. 

Asked whether there was a need to name the number two position in the party left vacant when he moved up to take up the number one spot, Hadi said “It was not necessary. I leave it to the delegates to decide at the next party election.” 

He also said that PAS would field women candidates in the next election and several had been named. 

PAS sources said later that at least 20 women would be fielded for state assembly seats and several for parliamentary seats.