Ex-govt staff deny joining PAS

Duo say no despite announcement that they joined party at rally

There was confusion at the PAS Fastaqim 2.0 rally when two retired civil servants, earlier touted to have joined the party, denied it.

When PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan announced on stage on Saturday that two retired senior civil servants would now be a part of the party, the massive crowd cheered.

Even the party’s mouthpiece Harakah reported on its portal yesterday that former Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission deputy chief commissioner Datuk Seri Zakaria Jaffar and former Road Transport Department director Datuk Che Abdul Rahim Che Daud had joined PAS.

However, the triumph turned into confusion when Zakaria later denied that he had joined PAS.

“Maybe you have misunderstood. I am just supporting PAS’ efforts in fighting corruption,” he said.

“Corruption is a comprehensive issue. If anybody invites me on the grounds of fighting corruption, I will come.

“But I’m not into politics,” said Zakaria, who now heads the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Foundation, when met backstage at the event here on Saturday night.

Che Abdul Rahim is also a senior member of the Malaysian AntiCorruption Foundation but he did not speak during the event.

A few days earlier, Nasrudin had started the hype by saying there would be several national figures joining PAS during the rally.

Speculation swirled that Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was one of them but the former Selangor mentri besar said yesterday he did not harbour any intention of joining any political party.

When reporters told Nasrudin about Zakaria’s denial, the PAS leader played it down, saying “the most important thing is the two figures are now ‘together’ with PAS”.

“What I meant was them ‘joining’ or being together with PAS in our struggles.

“Some may choose to be members, some may become partners or just supporters.

“Their presence here tonight is already meaningful.

“This is also good news for everyone because it proves that PAS is not alone or lacking support from professional figures,” said Nasrudin after the rally.

If anybody invites me on the grounds of fighting corruption, I will come. But I’m not into politics.

Datuk Seri Zakaria Jaffar