The alumni of a religious school in Yan say they are seeking compensation for a function they organised which PAS deputy president Mohamed Sabu failed to attend after promising to do so.

Head of the organising committee Zainon Ismail said that about RM30,000 had been spent on the event which was to commemorate the death of 27 girl students in a fire on Sept 22, 1989 at Pondok Pak Ya, which has since been renamed Sekolah Agama Taufikiah Khairiah Al-Halimiah.

He understood that Kedah PAS required central leaders to have the permission of the head of the area concerned to officiate at a function.

"But we had organised this in the name of the alumni and it was not a party function," Zainon said, adding that Mohamad, also known as Mat Sibu, did not inform him or others in the committee of a change in plans.

Zainon said that he had learned that the Jerai PAS and the Kedah PAS liaison committee had stopped Mat Sabu from attending the function.

He asked them to pay for the cost of organising and holding the function, including the publication of 1,000 copies of a book on the tragedy, which Mat Sabu was supposed to have launched.

"If none of them come to see us to negotiate the compensation, we will take legal action," Zainon said.

- Bernama