Mat Sabu dismisses reports of PAS Youth walkout during speech

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said a group which left during his officiating speech at the Youth wing’s assembly today could have just been going to perform their prayers.

He said there was nothing untoward about the group’s actions nor did it indicate a lack of support for his leadership.

Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, officiating the assembly opening at the Chon Moi Hall in Johor, said the PAS Youth members had left the hall as it was prayer time.

"It is not a question of supporters of party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang leaving the assembly," Mat Sabu said.

"I did not see it but I know the time that they exited was prayer time. It is normal to go in and out as it was prayer time," he said.

An online news portal today reported that almost 50 individuals had left the assembly hall wearing vests that read "We support the president and ulama".
Mat Sabu in his speech said that voices which had been recently critical of the ulama in the party, namely the Shura Council, were merely exercising “checks and balances”.

“No one is disputing the powers of the Shura Council. It is only to act as a check and balance to ensure respect for the council is maintained.”

The Shura Council along with PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang were recently criticised for overstepping their boundaries in deciding the candidates for the Selangor menteri besar.

The PAS Legal and Human Rights Bureau said the party’s constitution had no provision that allowed Hadi as president to make decisions unilaterally.

The Shura Council had backed Hadi in submitting the names of two PKR and one PAS assemblymen to the Selangor palace.

Hadi’s decision broke rank with PAS’s allies, DAP and PKR, which only submitted PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s name for the menteri besar post.

Mat Sabu also said there were no specific instructions on the dress code at the assembly.

"No, it was not a sign of protest," he said.
PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat also said it was likely the group wanted to go for their prayers.

-tmi