Mahfuz quits PAS after 34 years

PETALING JAYA: Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar (pic) has announced his decision to quit PAS after 34 years with the party.

In a live video on Sunday afternoon, which was shared on the Amanah Kedah Facebook page, Mahfuz said he had been a PAS member since March 12, 1984.

"Today, I will send a letter to the PAS secretary-general in accordance with the party constitution to stop my PAS membership, effective 11.59pm on Dec 31, 2017," he said, holding up his membership card.

According to Mahfuz, the one-minute gap between his exit and midnight was intentional, to allow him to "take a deep breath" before stepping into the new year.

Also joining him in exiting PAS is his wife and his daughter, who will quit the party in a few days. Mahfuz's son already left PAS a year earlier.

Mahfuz is believed to be estranged from his party colleagues, and often sides with Pakatan Harapan, which PAS has disassociated itself from.

In late October, PAS said that it had decided to drop Mahfuz as a candidate for the 14th general election.

Mahfuz has held the Pokok Sena seat for two terms.