The sleepy state of Perlis may be home to PAS spiritual adviser Haron Din, but that did not stop about 1,000 people showing up for splinter group Gerakan Harapan Baru’s (GHB) ceramah in Kangar last night.

Although it rained earlier in the evening, the crowd and curious onlookers sat on the muddy ground to listen to the GHB lineup.

Led by former PAS deputy president and GHB chief Mohamad Sabu, GHB leaders were careful not to openly condemn their comrades in PAS, the ulama faction or president Abdul Hadi Awang, lest it backfired.

But the crowd was responsive, with the lineup at times making jibes at the PAS leadership for recently appearing to support Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as he battle allegations of siphoning money from state sovereign fund 1MDB.

Thus the speakers - MPs Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Parit Buntar), Hanipa Maidin (Sepang), lawyer and son of a former PAS president Faiz Fadzil Noor and Mujahid’s sister Aida Yusof Rawa made subtle remarks to show how PAS has diverted from its earlier struggle and why GHB should be supported.

They appealed for support to “Save Malaysia”, for the country needs a regime change and not merely a replacement of Najib.

Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, was in his element and gave a fiery speech on how PAS had played a big role in bringing Islam into the mainstream of Malaysian politics since it was formed in 1951.

That PAS had joined BN in the past as it did with Barisan Alternatif in 1999 and Pakatan Rakyat in 2008, was to promote the cause of Islam.

“However, recently we see there are some changes in PAS. Malaysia is a democratic country, and we practise elections every five years. But since we practise the first past the post system, our victory is measured by who gets the most votes, not who is strongest,” he said.

“We have to work with other communities and other parties. We see now that the party which had contributed much, has left the arena which was made possible by all communities,” he added, referring to the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat.

Mat Sabu was referring to the decision by PAS delegates at the party’s 61st muktamar in Selangor early June, where a proposal by the ulama council to sever ties with DAP was accepted without debate.

Following the move, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng declared Pakatan Rakyat “dead”, setting in motion the plan to form a new coalition with the 18 progressive PAS leaders who were defeated at the muktamar.

‘Muslims aiding Islamophobia’

Meanwhile, Mat Sabu also spoke on how Muslims themselves, other than the Zionists or Western propagandist, have helped the spread of Islamophobia among the non-Muslims.

He said Muslims in Islamic countries were labelling one another unbelievers and were killing their own due to differences of opinion.

“There must be reforms among Muslims, or else others fear Islam not because it is great, but because of the cruelty of some Muslims towards others,” he said.

“In Malaysia, we are working on the reforms, we are working with NGOs and non-Muslims.

“(For this to succeed) a regime change is compulsory, so whoever supports Umno or BN, we shall get rid of them,” he said to loud applause from the crowd.

Meanwhile, Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa) chairperson Phahrolrazi Ismail was also present at the ceramah but did not give a speech.

PKR was represented by former secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution and Indera Kayangan assemblyperson Chan Ming Kai.

DAP's Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim was also present at last night's event, which was also held simultaneously in Kota Baru, Kelantan, the latter which also drew a big crowd.