Ex-Pas VP Mahfuz Omar joins PAN
NSTP TEAM
New Straits Times15 March 2018
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Pas vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar is now a Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) member.
The Pokok Sena Member of Parliament, who has been without a party since leaving Pas in December, announced his decision at press conference in the Parliament building, today.
"After being an independent MP, today I announce my decision to join PAN.
"I chose PAN because it has sacrificed a lot for the opposition to win," he said adding that his reason to leave Pas was because it was an “unstable” party.
Present at the press conference were PAN president Mohamad Sabu, PAN deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, vice-president Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof and other top leaders from DAP and PKR.
PAN was formed in 2015 by a group of disgruntled former Pas leaders, who lost the party election the same year.
On Dec 31, Mahfuz in a press conference announced his decision to quit Pas, after 34 years with the Islamic party, after he failed to get the party to collaborate with Pakatan Harapan over the past two years.
Meanwhile, asked whether he will defend his Pokok Sena seat, which he won under Pas, Mahfuz said; "I am willing to be ‘mamak penjual roti keliling kampung (mamak selling bread around the village) to help PH campaign in GE14," he said.
Mahfuz said he would not mind if he was not chosen as a candidate because his main goal was to help the opposition win GE14.
"I did not join PAN to contest in the election. The question on who will be the candidate is up to the party’s leadership," he said.
When asked whether he had any regrets in joining PAN, Mahfuz said; "I do not regret my decision. In fact, I feel relieved at being a PAN member." © New Straits Times Press
