ALOR SETAR (May 5): In the past, PAS and Umno were always at each other’s throats in terms of politics but not outside the ring, particularly with leaders such as the late Datuk Fadzil Muhammad Noor who was former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s consultant in Islam, reminisced the latter in Pokok Sena Parliamentary constituency, a known PAS stronghold.
However, the ground has shaken a bit with the entrance of Pakatan Harapan coalition, Parti Amanah Negara, into the fray and its Parliamentary incumbent Datuk Mahfuz Omar who quit PAS last December.
The Amanah leader will be contesting under the PKR ticket in a three-cornered fight against PAS’ Muhamad Radhi Mat Din and Barisan Nasional’s Said Ali Said Rastan on May 9.
According to a local, non-PAS supporters were never allowed to hold events in Bukit Lada but it is slowly changing.
“There are still hardcore supporters who have stopped talking to those who lean towards Amanah and even Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu). But looking at the turnout here, it seems like people are slowly accepting the change,” said Rahmah Ismail.
She thinks Mahfuz has a chance to win again here because people like him and that he is down-to-earth.
Meanwhile, Mahathir, who soldiered on despite a bad cough, narrated his experience with Fadzil Noor who was PAS president from 1989 to 2002.
“I am amazed by Fadzil Noor’s knowledge of the religion which was outstanding. I used to call him to my house to consult him on Islam. He was a good leader.
“We used to be enemies in politics due to differing opinions. I was Umno president and he was PAS president but we were friends outside the political ring. That was how it was those days,” he told some 200 people in a gathering smack in the rural Malay heartland of Kedah.
Before he arrived at the talk, Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah read a prayer when he visited the grave of Fadzil Noor. He died in June 2002 after heart bypass surgery, and was succeeded by current leader Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
In the last general election, Mahfuz, an ex-PAS vice president who has held the seat for three terms, beat BN’s Shahlan Ibrahim in a straight fight by a majority of 3,935 votes after polling 36,198 votes.
The Parliamentary seat is made up of Bukit Lada, Bukit Pinang and Derga state seats
Mahathir said 60-year-old Mahfuz’ father and him started the Kedah Umno office back then but joked that he was unsure why the son decided to join PAS.
“But now we are altogether because Umno has changed because cash is king. Its president Datuk Seri Najib Razak wants to buy leaders, the Attorney-General, and Inspector-General of Police. This needs to be changed. I think I can change that using my experience as the Prime Minister for 22 years. I might know a thing or two about running a country,” he said.
The majority Malay crowd was mixed with youths, middle-aged people, and some elderly men and women, who despite the drizzle and muddy ground, stood listening to his talk punctuated with candour.
“In some places, we have fielded Chinese candidates but Malays say they only want to vote a Muslim in. No, you cannot be like that. You must choose a candidate who has a good personality. Why would you still want a Muslim candidate if he has killed or robbed? That is not the way of Islam,” Mahathir said.
Urging them to support DAP particularly in the Derga State seat which is contested by incumbent Tan Kok Yew, he related his history with DAP which he was against him.
“DAP’s Lim Kit Siang used to call me names like ‘maha zalim’, ‘maha firaun’ and dictator when I was in office but it is okay. Now we are together in a team and we have a common vision to get rid of Najib,” he said.