PAS may reconsider flotilla mission due to UMNO ‘hijacking’
(Harakah Daily) – KUALA LUMPUR, Jun 20: A last minute decision to remove a speaking slot for PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu during the launching of the Malaysian chapter of the multinational aid flotilla seeking to break Israeli blockade on Gaza has led to questions over the mission’s domestic political intentions.
CENSORED … The banner at the launching event on June 18 showing a change of mind by organisers
Speaking to reporters, Mohamad Sabu said he decided to skip the launching ceremony of the Lifeline4Gaza (LL4G) aid team to Occupied Palestine on June 18 after organisers removed him as one of the speakers.
Mat Sabu lamented that the LL4G, which plans to send Malaysian participants to join the second flotilla, was being hijacked by UMNO and its NGO Aman Malaysia.
RARE HANDSHAKE … Then PAS president Fadzil Noor and Dr Mahathir Mohamad, at an event to voice support for Palestine, 2002
The programme on Saturday night in Cheras was to feature him alongside prime minister Najib Razak and UMNO Youth head Khairy Jamaluddin, in what was seen as an effort to symbolise Malaysian political unity when it comes to supporting the Palestinian cause, as was demonstrated in 2002 when the late PAS president Fadzil Noor and then UMNO president Dr Mahathir Mohamad shared a stage to condemn Israeli atrocities.
Mat Sabu said the organisers had initially wanted PAS Murshidul Am Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to represent the Islamic party, but the Kelantan Menteri Besar could not make it.
Shah Alam member of parliament Khalid Samad had then suggested Mat Sabu to represent the party.
He said he was initially allocated 20 minutes to give a speech on the Palestinian issue, but his slot was halved to 10 minutes, before being taken off altogether.
In his trademark cynicism, Mat Sabu (left) recalled his joy at being seated “on the same stage as the prime minister”.
“Of course I was so happy to be on the same stage with the prime minister,” he said.
“But when my name was dropped, I was disappointed, because it was supposed to be a joint event.”
On Saturday, many in the audience were disappointed by Mat Sabu’s absence. As if to add salt to the wound, organisers covered a piece of cloth on part the backdrop banner on the stage where the names of the PAS deputy president and Khairy were mentioned.
‘Second thoughts’
Mat Sabu, however explained that he was not disheartened at being denied the chance to speak.
“But I did not go there because it seems UMNO was hijacking the programme,” he said.
Meanwhile, Khalid (right) who would represent PAS when the humanitarian mission departs on Jun 26, said he was having second thoughts.
When contacted, the PAS central committee member, who agreed to Mat Sabu’s view that the programme was being hijacked by UMNO, said he was considering his options.
