Former Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said the new political party that is being talked about must be only for Muslim, in order to challenge PAS.

“The party must first remain for Muslims only, at least for now,” he wrote on his blog today.

“Already they have no turban and skull cap in their daily attire, this will handicap them , so to bring non Muslims in will be added problems for the new party,” he said.

“It will be another PKR and disastrous for Mat Sabu and friends,” he added referring to ousted PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu.

Talks are that a new political party comprising ousted PAS leaders and Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera (PasMa) will be formed after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri. The new party is expected to work with PKR and DAP after the ‘demise’ of the Pakatan Rakyat.

DAP said the PR had ceased to exist following PAS’s move to accept a motion without debate at the PAS 61st Muktamar, early June to sever all ties with DAP.

DAP had also accused PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to be the reason for the failure of the pact, formed in 2008.

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Meanwhile, Zaid who is former UMNO leader said for the new party to be successful it must be independent financially and intellectually as well as ideologically strong.

“It needs an economic plan that supports the poor, even their other partners are against them. The new party must fight for the underclass because that’s what Islam is about,” he said.

“These objectives are not difficult to achieve because the new party will have some of the finest Malay-Muslim leaders available today: Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, Salahuddin Ayub, Khalid Abdul Samad, Datuk Mahfuz Omar, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Mohamad Sabu, Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah , Mazlan Alimin and many others who are hardy politicians and have unique strengths,” he wrote.