The Leaked Whatsapp Message That Threw PAS Into Hot Soup
The infighting in Pakatan Rakyat ensues with a controversial leaked Whatsapp group chat that sees PAS central committee leaders discussing the possibility of leaving Pakatan Rakyat.
By Mei Mei Chu — 30 Jul 2014, 12:53 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
A Leaked Whatsapp Conversation Between PAS Central Committee Leaders Has Courted Controversy
A leaked screenshot of a conversation on the instant messaging application WhatsApp has inadvertently revealed that PAS central committee leaders have been actively discussing possible scenarios of leaving Pakatan Rakyat.
malaysiakini.com
The screenshot of the conversation started making rounds in the social media earlier this morning (28 July 2014).
malaysiakini.comIn The Message, PAS Leaders Discussed Possible Scenarios Of Leaving Pakatan Rakyat, Including Joining Forces With Umno And Playing On Racial Politics
PAS Leaders Were Seen Discussing Possible Scenarios Of Leaving Pakatan Rakyat, Including Joining Forces With Umno
Image via antarapos.comZuhdi had come under fire for the WhatsApp messages, in which he said that if PAS should leave Pakatan, the party could still retain Selangor with Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim remaining as menteri besar, if it joined forces with Umno to form the state government with a simple majority.
themalaysianinsider.com
Another highly disturbing feature of the conversation is the blatant tone of racist politics, with Zuhdi commenting that his scenario would return political dominance to the Malays and that they could negate "DAP and non-Muslims". "After this, if DAP and non-Muslims make noise about the Allah issue or raids, we can just swat them away," he said. "At the end of this year just change the borders to return all the Malay-Muslim political power," he wrote, without any apparent disagreement from the group.
malaysiakini.comMeanwhile the leaked WhatsApp conversation also appeared to show the friction running deep within PAS itself. When Zuhdi included co-operation with Umno in the possibility list, Kuala Krai MP Hatta Ramli (above) immediately shot it down. "Working together with Umno? I'm out!" he appeared to have replied instantly.
malaysiakini.comPAS Research Centre Operations Director Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki Was Slammed For Suggesting The Scenarios, But He Defended His Statements As Mere Scenario Analysis
PAS Research Centre operations director Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki (in grey) is defending his analysis suggesting PAS leave the Pakatan Rakyat coalition and join forces with Umno to govern Selangor, saying it was requested for by other PAS members.
Image via themalaysianinsider.comDr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki today defended his controversial WhatsApp messages, in which he had discussed possible scenarios if the party were to leave Pakatan Rakyat, saying he was asked by others in the group to analyse the situation in Selangor.
themalaysianinsider.com
“This discussion which was leaked was my response to the members of the WhatsApp who asked me to present a scenario analysis about the proposal by a PAS leader to leave Pakatan Rakyat. “The motion was supported by not less than 10 members in that group and many of them were close to Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.
thestar.com.myZuhdi said he suggested that they do a "scenario analysis" of what would happen if PAS opted out of the PR coalition that formed the Selangor state government, the acceptance of other members and others. "This suggestion was welcomed by all and I was asked to present it. As such, I began making brief analysis, imagining the possible scenarios if PAS left PR. Besides current facts, the imagination of the analyst has to be taken into account. "
themalaysianinsider.com
Zuhdi said that in the leaked discussion, he had presented a scenario, from the perspective of the state government's position and PAS's freedom in facing DAP and other parties which can be achieved if they left PR.
themalaysianinsider.com
PAS Has Also Moved To Distance Itself Away From Dr Zuhdi's Message, Saying That It Does Not Reflect PAS' Stand
ts Research Centre executive director, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, said Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki's opinion in the WhatsAppmessage, which has gone viral, was not backed up by the centre’s findings.
Image via themalaymailonline.comPAS has moved to diffuse tension over a controversial WhatsApp message from a central committee member, saying that the scenario outlined for the party in the message, if it left Pakatan Rakyat, was not its stand. Its Research Centre executive director, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, said Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki's opinion in the WhatsAppmessage, which has gone viral, was not backed up by the centre’s findings.
"I would like to stress that the scenario described by Dr Zuhdi does not reflect PAS's stand and also does not represent the findings of the PAS Research Centre," he said in a statement today. "In the context of the controversial discussion in the PAS central committee WhatsApp group, I would like to emphasise that this scenario was not the only one raised in his 'planning scenario'.”
themalaysianinsider.com
"PAS will still stand steadfastly with Pakatan Rakyat, carrying the common policy framework together as has been stressed repeatedly by PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and president (Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang)," Dzulkefly added.
Pakatan Rakyat Wants PAS To Take Disciplinary Action Against Dr Zuhdi As The Proposal Goes Against The Agreement Between PAS And Pakatan Rakyat
Rafizi said the statement by the PAS research centre operations director also went against the policy and agreements made by his party with the other two partners in Pakatan.
Image via kualalumpurpost.netPKR wants its Pakatan Rakyat partner, PAS, to take disciplinary action against a member of its central committee for discussing leaving the coalition in a leaked WhatsApp message that has gone viral online.
themalaysianinsider.com
In expressing his regrets, Rafizi said the statement by the PAS research centre operations director also went against the policy and agreements made by his party with the other two partners in Pakatan.
themalaysianinsider.com
"What is the disciplinary action to be taken against Zuhdi, who had suggested a treacherous proposal, going against the agreement inked between PAS and Pakatan and the people who had voted for PAS and Pakatan? "We want to know how many from the PAS central leadership hold such racist and anti-democractic views like Zuhdi," PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said in a statement today.
themalaysianinsider.com
“His plans to use the Selangor state power as a result of cooperation with Umno and PAS to change electoral boundaries are biased and sidelines the non-Malays. “This is a betrayal to the struggle for clean and fair elections by citizens, Bersih, Pakatan Rakyat and PAS all this time,” Rafizi said in a statement.
"The words that he had used were not talking about possible scenarios but are reflective of racist and hate sentiments. He had also indirectly stated his approval for Jais's action against other religious practitioners," Rafizi said, referring to the Selangor religious authorities which had seized Malay and Iban-language Bibles earlier this year.
themalaysianinsider.com
DAP Is Also Aggrieved, Calling It A Betrayal Not Only To Pakatan Rakyat, But Also To Those Who Voted For Pakatan Rakyat In GE13
DAP today said it was aggrieved over the controversial WhatsApp message which showed a PAS central committee member discussing the possibility of leaving Pakatan Rakyat, joining PKR in calling for the Islamist party to make a firm stand over the issue.
yahoo.com"We are aggrieved over the matter. The first thing is Zuhdi has not denied writing the message but has defended himself by saying that what he had written was a 'scenario analysis' based on a suggestion by a PAS leader for the party to leave the coalition.
themalaysianinsider.com
"Whether or not PAS remains in PR is up to its leadership, but the proposal to join with Umno and form the Selangor state government is a betrayal not only to PKR and DAP but also to the people of Selangor who gave a clear mandate to PR in the 13th general election," National organising secretary Anthony Loke said in a statement today.
themalaysianinsider.com
"What has happened to the openness and tolerance in the slogan 'PAS for All'?" Loke asked. He added that he had never imagined a PAS leader could also think like Umno in regaining the political powers of Malays through the redelineation of constituencies. “Doesn’t such a proposal show as if they are in cahoots with the Election Commission and have no difference from Perkasa's agenda?"
themalaysianinsider.com
At The Same Time, Malaysians On Twitter Have Expressed Their Disappointment In PAS. They Have Called On PKR And DAP To Break Off Their Alliance With The Islamist Political Party.
Malaysians On Twitter Have Expressed Their Disappointment In PAS And Have Called On PKR And DAP To Break Off Its Alliance With PAS.
Image via rt.comTwitter users called the other members Pakatan, DAP and PKR, to break off its alliance with PAS. "After that whatsapp, many are Pissed with Pas," said @Art_Harun, while @aimancaezar said: "No sympathy at all for PAS. High level political strategy being conducted on whatsapp AND you lose control of info flow. Basics man."
themalaysianinsider.com
@patricklsk said: "If the leaked WhatsApp group conversation is authentic, it's truly an eye opener to the REAL PAS. And I thought you have move passed that..." "If that was really a legitimate screenshot of PAS Whatsapp group, then I don't know what to say anymore," said @afifsohaili.
themalaysianinsider.com
Many also expressed disappointment in PAS, which was previously known for its hard-line views before joining the PR coalition, saying that they had thought that the Islamist party had moved on from its extreme position. @Sasindran88 added, "PAS is reaching its end already with the latest WhatsApp revelations as it shows the truth and racial side of the party which is supposedly linked with the top leadership of the party!!!"
themalaysianinsider.com