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Wednesday, August 02, 2023

Gerakan snubbed at PN ceramah, Penang PAS secretary tells Lau to 'go away'








Gerakan snubbed at PN ceramah, Penang PAS secretary tells Lau to 'go away'


STATE POLLS | Gerakan was given the cold shoulder at a Perikatan Nasional mega ceramah in Tasek Gelugor, Penang last night.

The party was not invited to the event, but its president Dominic Lau was in attendance - albeit without any VIP treatment.

While other PN leaders were up on stage, Lau was waiting across from the stage with a group of PN supporters who were hoping for a chance to shake hands with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

While waiting for Hadi, Lau was greeted by PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad, who was a speaker at the ceramah.

However, as Idris was about to be escorted on stage Penang PAS secretary Iszuree Ibrahim walks up to Lau and tells him bluntly: "those who are not invited, please stay (here)."

When someone protests, Iszuree replies: "tak boleh (no you can't). You go away".

Idris is then escorted onto the stage, while Lau looks on, maintaining a smile.

Iszuree was supposed to be the candidate for Bayan Lepas - the seat Lau is now contesting.

Later when Hadi arrives, Lau's aid Wendy Subramaniam is heard asking PAS Youth members who had surrounded the PAS president's car to make way - ostensibly for Lau to meet with Hadi.

However, the PAS Youth members reply: "Jangan bagi (Don't let them).

Hadi was then escorted straight from his car to the stage, bypassing Lau and the crowd.


Lau chatting with Idris


Soon after, the Gerakan president and his entourage left the event.

Lau had ruffled feathers in Penang PAS when he was fielded in a Malay-majority seat.

Prior to nomination day, Bayan Lepas PAS members had threatened to boycott him.

When contacted, Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong confirmed with Berita Harian that the party was not invited to be featured at last night's event.

"As far I know the ceramah might have been for PAS only, and maybe they did not invite us because it was a Malay-majority location, or only wanted speakers who are Malay," he said.

Penang Bersatu chief Zulkifli Bakar was a speaker at the ceramah, while PAS non-Muslim candidate Andrew Teow (Sungai Puyu) was on stage with the PN leadership.

Oh, however, said that Gerakan was not quarrelling with PAS.

"We are not fighting. Gerakan and the Penang PAS chief Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff, Iszuree, and other state PAS leaders are ok.

"But dissatisfaction among each other's grassroots is a normal thing in politics," he said.


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