'Panicky' PAS moves to stop members joining Amanah

KOTA BARU: Kelantan PAS is short of pressing the panic button now with Amanah, the party name of Gerakan Haparan Baru (GHB) and a group of Muslim non-governmental organisation, gaining momentum in luring members into its fold.

State PAS deputy commissioner Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah said despite the common perception that Amanah will not make inroads in the state, PAS is not taking chances and will counter any move by its members to join Amanah.

"We are compiling the names of all suspected PAS members who are leaning towards the party through their actions and public statements.

"We will have a meeting of the PAS central committee on Sept 11 to discuss the actions to take against them.

"Although Amanah will struggle to make inroads in Kelantan, we will not leave to it chance. We believe Amanah is poison to PAS," he said after attending the state executive councillor meeting at Kota Darul Naim here on Wednesday.

Mohd Amar, who is deputy mentri besar, said Amanah has the potential to bring down PAS in the coming general election because its members are sure to contest in PAS areas. And when the votes are split three ways, Umno will emerge the eventual winner, he said.

"I said this at a ceramah in Kuala Krai recently and I cannot understand why Amanah is still adamant to set up the party that will surely benefit Umno.

"Are they so blind as to appease their DAP masters to the extent of fighting PAS and to satisfy their revenge after being ousted in the June party polls.

"It does not make any sense but what is true is Amanah will be a puppet of the DAP," he said.

Amanah or Parti Amanah Rakyat is due to be officially launched on Aug 31.

On another matter, Mohd Amar said the party's disciplinary committee will follow the guidelines in meting out the punishments on those who joined Amanah.

He said any statements or actions by PAS members, including Nik Umar Nik Abdul Aziz, the son of the late former Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, will be scrutinised.

"What I understand is he is a member of Jemaah Islamiah Malaysia (JIM) and I am not sure whether he is in the list of suspects prepared by Kelantan PAs secretary Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan but I am sure the disciplinary committee will review his case," he said.

Among the big names that were submitted for disciplinary action were Kota Baru division commissioner Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah and Kuala Krai MP Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli.