KOTA TINGGI: The debate session of the Pas Youth annual general meeting turned ugly even before it started after a group of delegates protested against the validity of the party wing’s election last year.
The protesting delegates, who were mostly from Selangor, insisted that the matter be settled before the meeting could proceed.
They claimed that five Pas Youth divisions in Johor had sent delegates without holding their own annual general meetings.
The divisions, they alleged, were Pulai, Semberong, Labis, Pengerang and another one which was not named by the protesters.
The noisy protest continued as one after another of the group’s leaders took to the rostrum to voice their dissatisfaction, despite an appeal by Pas Youth’s permanent chairman Kamal Ashaari for the matter to be settled amicably so that the meeting could proceed.
More members of the protesting group voiced their disapproval when the chairman tried to push through with the itineraries of the night, including the tabling of the party wing’s budget.
“How can we sweep this matter under the carpet? Do we want the RoS (Registrar of Societies) to take action against our party?” said one of the delegates.
Another protester from the Puchong division said Pas may end up being deregistered by RoS.
“We don’t want our party to end up like DAP, which almost had to use our party logo during the general election because of similar problems,” he said to loud shouts of “Allahuakbar! (Allah is great)” by the protesters.
A shouting match then erupted between the protesters and those who wanting to proceed with the meeting.
Kamal continued to appeal for calm until at one point, he broke down in tears.
His deputy, Dr Riduan Mohd Nor, then took over the proceedings and, in an effort to restore order, loudly called for the delegates to stand up and recite prayers. Riduan had to repeat his order when the protest continued.
The situation subsided only more than an hour later when Kamal once again took charge and made a passionate appeal for the matter to be referred to the party’s leadership.
Kamal however, was rushed to the Kota Tinggi Hospital, minutes later after experiencing breathing difficulties.
The situation remained tense even after the protest ended, with speakers who took turns in the debate reminded reminding delegates not to quarrel with each other.