PAS and Anwar's Gerakan Reformasi

It was drizzling slightly that evening as people began to trickle in into the PAS headquarters in Taman Melewar. As the crowd grew bigger and bigger, the rain stopped, and the night promised to be cool and clear. Soon after Isyak the crowd swelled to thousands, some estimated 20,000, but whatever it is, the crowd was indeed large. The big crowd that night was not made up of only regular PAS men but also fence sitters, members of ABIM JIM (Jemaah Islam Malaysia) and even UMNO. Yes, ABIM, JIM and UMNO members who sympathized with Anwar Ibrahim, the former DPM, UMNO deputy president. UMNO members now set aside whatever misgivings they had against PAS and attended this 'ceramah' session. They have now joined forces and have formed the "Gerakan Reformasi", a loose group headed by Anwar that aspires to establish justice for all, eradicate graft and abuse of power, in short spearheading a comprehensive reform movement with the hope of changing the present society into a better one. 

Therefore the large turnout that night was actually motivated by the sole idea of wanting to hear what PAS, the largest active and surviving Islamic Party in Malaysia, has to say on the Anwar issue. The crowd wanted to hear for themselves PAS's reaction to Anwar's sacking and the serious allegation levelled against him by UMNO leaders particularly Dr Mahathir himself. The crowd was eager to know whether PAS was willing to work hand in hand with Anwar, knowing full well Anwar's past Islamic leanings and his background. And most of all they especially those from the "Gerakan Reformasi" use hoping for a full PAS endorsement of their cause. 

Presently it is no secret that the Anwar issue had not only split already fragmented the UMNO leadership, but it had also created slight confusion among PAS members, some of whom hold a soft spot for Anwar whom they knew since his ABIM days. It is a known fact that Anwar has many friends in PAS, from senior leaders who have worked and fought with him in ABIM, to ordinary members who respect him merely for his Islamic ideals though they are unsure whether he is still the same Anwar they once knew. Therefore when Anwar was sacked and stripped of his position and his sudden retaliation through the setting up of the "Gerakan Reformasi" it is only natural for certain members in PAS to be slightly confused and dumbfounded. 

However Alhamdulillah unlike UMNO, PAS members are united at all times behind their leaders whom they pledge their allegiance to unless of course they stray from the true path of Islam. On this issue PAS leaders speaking with full political maturity and experience were quick to react in order to instill understanding amongst members in addressing the Anwar issue and his so called "Gerakan Reformasi". PAS leaders from the Mursyidul Am to the President, deputy President, and Acting Secretary General made clear of PAS's position and stand on the issue, thus clearing the air from whatever misgivings and confusion that may persist. 

There is no doubt that Anwar during his ABIM days worked closely with PAS to the extent that ABIM looked like PAS Youth wing to many. ABIM those days looked more like a training ground in grooming future PAS leaders. Ustaz Fadzil Noor, Tuan Guru Hj. Abd. Hadi Awang, Syed Ibrahim, Mat Sabu and many more were all once involved in ABIM. However when Anwar's ideas started to mellow down and looked more inclined towards joining the government, those of PAS ideals in ABIM soon became suspicious and weary of him. Finally the nightmare they all feared became true. Anwar abandoned them in broad daylight and crossed over to UMNO, the party that clearly distinguishes and separates politics from religion, the party that he once fought along side PAS in Kelantan in the late 70's. 

Anwar hopped onto the UMNO bandwagon fully convinced and confident that given the opportunity he might be able to bring about change within UMNO, and what happened thereafter is now academic. 

All PAS leaders sympathize with the unfortunate turn of events that had happened to Anwar. PAS 'views of the sexual allegations against Anwar, however serious, holds him innocent unless proven otherwise by the accusers in an open court. PAS agrees that Anwar has the right to defend himself against all allegations against him. However with regards to the setting up of the "Gerakan Reformasi", PAS has its misgivings. PAS gained much inroad through the hard work and sincere sacrifice of its leaders and die hard members. PAS is convinced that political reform could only be achieved through the democratic process by toppling the UMNO led BN government. Therefore what the "Gerakan Reformasi" hopes to achieve has actually been spearheaded by PAS for the past 40 odd years of its existence. 

The speaker in Taman Melewar that night was PAS firebrand Mat Sabu, PAS Parliament and Central Executive member. In front of the packed crowd, Mat Sabu voiced out the feelings of PAS leaders and members on the Anwar issue and his "Gerakan Reformasi". He spoke almost 2 hours but it was a convincing one. He started by giving the crowd a lengthy history lesson that touched on PAS's history since the early days., the setting up of ABIM and Anwar's sudden exit into UMNO. But what "jump started" the crowd was when Mat Sabu touched on Anwar's presence of 16 lengthy years in UMNO and the government till his last day held as a Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister. Clearly Anwar had failed to live up to his Islamic expectations during his time there. If there were parties who were convinced that Islam in Malaysia has a future in Anwar, they are wrong. 

The moment Mat Sabu touched on Anwar's involvement in UMNO and the government the crowd reacted and broke into the waves of "takbir". From their reaction, they fully understood and supported PAS's position on the issue. At the end of his ceramah Mat Sabu called on those who were in "Gerakan Reformasi" to instead continue their struggle in PAS. ABIM and JIM followers and leaders should now understand that if they are really keen to see an Islamic transformation of the government they should lend their support to PAS and together in the name of Islam strive to save their beleaguered nation of ours. 

As the crowd dispersed that night many left convinced that this is indeed the right time for Islam to make its presence felt. The recent Arau victory was a manifestation of the rakyat's desire to see a change and the Anwar's sacking incident and harassment could only further prove that the UMNO led BN government have to be changed for a better one. Let us strive to achieve victory through PAS!