Mat Sabu to form new party, maintain relationship with DAP

Former PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said he and other PAS leaders who lost in the party’s election early this month, plan to form a new political party.

He said the leaders want to continue working with DAP although the liberal party had announced yesterday that the Pakatan Rakyat 9PR) coalition had ‘ceased to exist’.

“Right now, we are reading and gauging the support from the people and see the momentum,” he told reporters last night after meeting 13 former PAS Central leaders.

“We have several options now, either form a political party or a non-governmental organisation,” he said.

DAP, yesterday, said PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had killed PR especially with the issue of hudud and adopting a motion without debate to sever ties with DAP at its last Muktamar.

READ: Pakatan Rakyat no longer exists, says DAP's Lim Guan Eng

Meanwhile, Dr Hatta Ramli who was with Mohamad said he will continue with his struggles for a better Malaysia despite no longer holding party posts.

Another former PAS Central member, Mohamed Hanipa Maidin hopes for a new party that is based on Islamic laws and is more tolerant to differing views in a party.

“What is important is that we want to form a new Malaysia which does not sidelines religion but at the same time can discuss and hold dialogues,” he said.

DAP Central Executive Committee on Monday held a closed-door meeting to discuss the proposal by Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera (Pasma) that a new coalition be formed with a new party to replace PAS.