PAS’s Youth, Women and Ulama (religious scholars) wings are set to converge at Kota Bharu tonight as all three wings hold their muktamar (general assembly) simultaneously at the Kelantan Tarbiyah Islamiah centre.

The muktamar, which will see the participation of over 1,700 members, will be opened by PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

azlanThe gathered delegates will debate their motions at the wing level prior to the main PAS muktamar which will begin on Friday.

Topping the list of motions to be tabled for debate is one by PAS Youth wing regarding the sports betting licence issue.

According to committee chairperson Suhaizan Kaiat, who is also the PAS Youth information chief, the wing will push for the federal government to cancel the sports betting licence.

"It is a black mark on the nation’s sports industry and a bad influence on the family institution," he said.

They will also urge the government to re-consider the demands of the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih).

He said Bersih’s earlier demands with regard to the abolition of postal voting, a ‘clean’ voter list and use of indelible ink had been rejected by the federal government.

Push for woman vice-president

On the issue of national sovereignty, he said PAS Youth will debate a motion pushing for the government to be more stern in its dealings with Singapore, especially with regards to the joint development of the land parcels which Malaysia got in return for surrendering KTMB land in Tanjung Pagar, Singapore.

Suhaizat added that the PAS Youth will ask the government to terminate ties with the allegedly Israeli-linked international public relations firm Apco Worldwide and condemn the Israeli military’s attack on the humanitarian aid vessel Mavi Marmara.

Continuing the momentum from its last muktamar, the assembly will also see a motion by the PAS Women’s wing to push for increased female participation in the party’s leadership.

azlanThe wing is expected to move a motion to ask for the creation of a woman vice-president’s post in the Islamic party.

PAS Women’s wing secretary Kartini Ahmad said other motions include one to pressure the government to increase the number of police officers in order to lower the crime rate and one to discuss the idea of establishing a PAS Women’s Youth wing.

The women’s wing will suggest a motion to urge the government to reduce superstition-based television programmes, added Kartini. This is because they believe such programmes may be a bad influence on society.

The ulama wing, however, has not yet finalised the issues which will be debated at its muktamar.

PAS Ulama wing secretary Wan Ahmad Rasyidi Wan Othman said the motions which will be debated will only be confirmed just prior to the muktamar later today.

 

"Normally, the ulama wing will discuss matters regarding religion. At the previous muktamar, we discussed the ‘Jom Heboh’ concert controversy and the issue of apostasy," he said.