PAS Muktamar this year will be about solidarity with Palestine, says sec-gen

PETALING JAYA: The PAS annual general assembly (Muktamar) this year will be in solidarity with the struggle to free Palestine, says PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

He said this two days before the three-day PAS Muktamar takes place at the IDCC Convention Centre in Shah Alam.

“All content during the 69th PAS annual Muktamar will be conceptualised in line with “PAS solidarity with the struggle of Palestine” - beginning with the president’s policy speech, the programmes lined up and the launch of the welfare and development assistance for Gaza by PAS Relief and fellow NGOs.

“Perikatan Nasional leaders, local political parties and local NGOs, as well as foreign political party leadership and international NGOs, including those from Palestine, Turkiye, Middle East, West Asia and this region, have confirmed their attendance.

“I also extend my invitation to all Malaysians who are concerned with the struggle of Palestine to follow the happenings at the Muktamar, be it through online channels or as observers, as the Muktamar will be held in a transparent manner.

“PAS has also retracted the invitations to a few foreign missionaries of those countries which have openly supported the actions of the Israeli-Zionist regime in their attacks against Gaza and West Bank recently.

“PAS’ standing with the Palestinian struggle is a solidarity manifestation of the party to the freedom of Palestine land,” said Takiyuddin in a statement on Wednesday (Oct 18).

About 5,000 attendees including PAS delegates and observers are expected to converge in Shah Alam for three days from Oct 20.

This is the first Muktamar since PAS has been part of the Perikatan Nasional coalition which now rules four states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis.

The Palestine-Israel war has escalated in recent days, with the most Israeli strike on Oct 17 killing more than 500 Palestinians at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday (Oct 18) condemned the attack made by Israel, and described the recent attack as 'madness' and going overboard.

"That is why we are calling for an immediate ceasefire to calm the situation down.

"If this continues to persist, the victims will be mothers, children, and patients, and this has reached a level of madness and without humanity," he told reporters after attending a programme at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) on Wednesday.

The airstrike came on the eleventh day of the escalated bombing, with a growing international chorus of non-governmental groups and world leaders saying the Israeli bombing campaign on the besieged enclave - including health care facilities, homes and houses of worship - violates international law, and may constitute war crimes.