A meeting between the group of 18 defeated leaders, New Hope (Harapan Baru), with several 'progressive' PAS ulama who are also disappointed with the current new leadership will take place today in Selangor.

PAS’ Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa, who will be attending the meeting, said these ulama supported the idea by New Hope to form a new entity and join DAP and PKR in a new coalition.

“We will come out with a stand to support progressive Islam, an Islam which is open to all,” Muhajid said when met at his service centre in Parit Buntar yesterday.

Mujahid, however, declined to name the ulama in PAS, who were supportive and who would join the New Hope team in their quest for a new party.

“The new party will become more clearer after Hari Raya. We are currently meeting various groups behind closed doors. There are also open meetings with the people during buka puasa events,” said the former PAS central committee member.

New Hope is organising a big gathering in Perlis on the third day of Raya to kick off their nationwide roadshow.

Mujahid said a gathering will be organised in Perak on July 26, while the Penang event is yet to be finalised.

“Perlis is not really the first stop. We had a gathering in Johor last month although we did not think of a new party then,” he said.

New Hope will be attacked

Muhajid, together with former PAS deputy chief Mohamed Sabu ( photo ), are part of the group of 18 who were defeated in PAS’ party polls in early June, while their positions were filled by ulama faction aligned to president Abdul Hadi Awang.

As Pakatan has been declared dead by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, the New Hope team has mulled setting up a new party which will take PAS’ place in a planned new coalition dubbed Pakatan 2.0 .

An alternative to PAS was necessary as the disgruntled members are not too comfortable with their party’s coziness with arch rival Umno, which was evident with both parties working closely to see the implementation of hudud law in Kelantan.

Asked if the party would be supported by Malays grassroots, Mujahid was positive about it.

He said many groups including NGOs or individuals, like members of Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia, Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia, and Angkatan Belia Muslim Malaysia, were supportive of New Hope.

However, Mujahid forsees that New Hope will be attacked as DAP's lackey in these three years leading up to the 14th national polls, which will be called by June 2018.

New Hope opponents will use such themes as "DAP lackey" or "Anwarista" to attack the new entity which hopes to be an alternative to PAS, he said.

“But we have our own strengths and we are an institution by ourselves, we do not just represent an individual.

“The Malays need to evaluate themselves who can be their leader. Indeed there are tough times ahead for us as we try to get rid of the perception that our opponents are trying to pin on us,” he added.