KUALA LUMPUR – PAS is open to accepting political “hoppers” provided they can be educated on the party’s struggles, said president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
The 70-year-old Islamist party, he said, will always persevere even if the new party-hoppers eventually leave.
“Only those who are in line with their Islamic faith and possess a strong will can persevere in their struggle, while those who are fragile will hop.
“PAS will continue to accept newcomers and increase its (number of) members, who will go through the education process (tarbiah) whether they walk or run.
“The party’s doors are always open to those who want to join or leave, including party-hoppers,” he said in a statement today.
The Marang MP said PAS had also loaned its platform to the likes of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he was sacked from Umno in 1969, veteran politician Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who split with Umno in 1990, and former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was sacked by Umno in 1998.
“PAS does not only accept new members, but has also long been a stopover for party leaders who were sacked.
“But it is hard for anyone to accept PAS’ long struggle. Sometimes, they only join PAS temporarily.”
Citing PAS’ history of cooperation with various parties, including PKR, DAP and the now-defunct Semangat 46, Hadi said regardless of defections, PAS’ track record shows it will always persevere.
PAS’ statement comes amid current political turmoil besieging top parties in the country.
Following the Sheraton Move in February 2019, which saw numerous defections across both sides of the divide, at present, three former PKR MPs have since pledged their allegiance to the Perikatan Nasional government, of which PAS is a part of. – The Vibes, March 17, 2021
