Tough going for Harapan Baru, but chairman denies DAP funding PAS splinter group

(Malay Mail Online) – New Islamist group Mat SabuHarapan (HB) may be struggling to finance its political aspirations, but its chief Mohamad Sabu has denied DAP is bankrolling the PAS splinter group as alleged.

The former deputy president of the opposition Islamist party told Sinar Harian that his group will find a way to fund their work as they were used to working with little money in their pockets even when they were in PAS.

“Only politically bankrupt people will say that. Does anyone ask how Harapan Baru moves? Before, how did we move?” Mohamad was quoted saying by the Malay daily today, in response to allegations that HB’s paymaster was the DAP.

“If before, there were people who would pay petrol money, who would offer shelter. In fact, we even had to use our own money,” the preacher popularly known as Mat Sabu told Sinar Harian in an interview last night.

Mohamad was part of the progressive faction that was ousted from power in the June PAS elections and conceded that his new outfit faces higher hurdles going forward now compared to when its members were with PAS.

However, he signalled that poverty was a familiar face and expressed confidence their group will realise its targets.

“Our wives know how it’s like to go from being in a poor party to a poorer party,” he told the paper, adding that his struggles have grown to the point he doesn’t get enough sleep.

HB was formed from a group of defeated PAS progressive leaders who are seeking to rebuild political ties with their former Pakatan Rakyat allies DAP and PAS.

The group broke away from PAS after losing in the party elections two months ago and is seeking to register as a party by September to qualify for the next general elections due in 2018.

Mohamad said the Registrar of Societies (RoS) has yet to decide on the group’s application but has been good to it so far, without elaborating.

“RoS still hasn’t given its decision. Whether early or late, we leave it up to RoS,” he was quoted saying.