Perak PAS Youth mounts ‘Black Saturday’ campaign
Written by Yong Min Wei, The Edge
In yet another attempt to force fresh polls in Perak, PAS Youth today launched what is considered a "Black Saturday" campaign to call for the dissolution of the state legislative assembly in the silver state.
Perak PAS Vice Youth Chief Salman Saleh said the campaign would see its youth wing put on black shirts every Saturday in the silver state beginning June 6 to push for dissolution, adding that youth wings in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) as well as supporters were encouraged to do the same.
"We will be wearing black every Saturday in Perak until the legislative assembly is dissolved," he told a press conference at the launch of the "Black Shirt Every Saturday" campaign today at the sidelines of the 50th PAS Youth muktamar (conference).
According to Salman, wearing black would symbolise that Perakians were dissatisfied with the power grab by Umno-Barisan Nasional and wanted fresh polls to enable a new mandate for the state administration.
"Umno-Barisan Nasional has no intention to relinquish power although Perakians have rejected them in favour of PR in the 12th general election," he said adding that fresh election was the only way to solve the political impasse.
He also pointed out that the impasse had brought instability and chaos to the state and had deterred investors from coming in, noting that only a government elected by the people could restore stability, certainty and harmony.
Salman said the climax of the campaign would be some time in August where PAS Youth, with the assistance of its PR allies, is expected to organise a massive gathering in Perak to pile pressure for the assembly to be dissolved.
He added that Perak PAS Youth had written a letter to its Umno counterpart in the silver state last April for a meeting to end the Perak political impasse but had not received any reply until today.
"The bottom line in the Perak crisis is to have fresh elections," said former PAS Youth Chief Salahuddin Ayub when asked about the campaign.
He said it was fine if Perak Umno Youth is willing to meet Perak PAS Youth to discuss the political impasse but the meeting should consider the interest and demand of the rakyat which clearly wanted the assembly to be dissolved following the May 7 sitting.
