Maverick ex-Perlis mufti to join PAS?
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid, The Malaysian Insider
The visit by PAS religious scholar council chief, Datuk Harun Taib, to the house of Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin recently has sparked rumours about the possibility of the former Perlis mufti joining the Islamist party soon.
A blog had also published a photo of Harun’s visit to Asri’s house in Penang, claiming that the PAS leader was there to invite the latter to join PAS.
Asri today confirmed the visit and invitation to join the Islamist party.
“I would take it as an invitation but I have not made up my mind,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
His participation in PAS would boost the image of the Islamist party, which has been rocked by infighting between the progressive and conservative camps.
Asri, known for his “forward thinking” and independence from the status quo, may well be a vote-puller especially among the more moderate Malay and the non-Malay electorates.
But the decision to join PAS may not sit well with certain quarters, which allegedly includes former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
