3 PAS members sacked for militant links

(The Rakyat Post) – PAS has sacked three more members who are among five men wanted by the police for involvement in militant activities.

The three are Universiti Malaya (UM) lecturer Dr Mahmud Ahmad@Abu Handzalah, 36, Selayang Municipal Council worker Muhammad Joraimee Awang Raimee, 39, and UM stationary shop owner Mohd Najib Husen, 36.

They are believed to be serving the Islamic State movement in Iraq, according to police.

The remaining two are members of Darul Islam Sabah, which is affiliated to the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf in the restive south of the Philippines.

Bukit Aman’s counter-terrorism unit had released their profiles, with their pictures, two weeks back.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said the expulsions were made during the party’s central committee meeting yesterday following the police disclosure.

“We have cancelled their party membership as disciplinary action for taking part in violent activities, as warned by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang,” he said in an interview with party organ Harakah Daily today.

Mustafa said initial investigations showed that the three, who had been involved with a humanitarian mission in the Philippine’s Muslim-dominated region of Mindanao, were ordinary party members.

He said the party also got in touch with sources familiar with their backgrounds to ascertain their involvement in militant activities.

“At the moment, we can’t say for sure as they are currently out of the country and not reachable, but the doubts are there.

“For the sake of the party, we decided to terminate their membership in line with what the party president has said,” said Mustafa.

He added that no other members were being investigated at the moment.

Members who are expelled can rejoin the party by submitting evidence to prove their innocence.

Last month, the party clarified that it had sacked Ustaz Lotfi Ariffin in May after he left for Syria to join the jihadists.

Lotfi’s involvement came to light after photos of him in the country carrying guns and decked out in military-like attire were posted on Facebook.