The Malaysian Insight

MEMALI survivors look towards a permanent PAS-Umno pact beyond the 15th general election as they observed the 34th anniversary of the tragedy that claimed 18 lives.

The remembrance event in Kg Memali in Baling, Kedah, on Tuesday, also saw opposition parties Umno and PAS holding their first “muafakat nasional” (national consensus) state convention.

The event signalled the start of a grassroots-based nationwide effort to gather public support for the opposition’s campaign to defeat the Pakatan Harapan government in the 15th general election.

The convention is similar to initiatives mounted by Pakatan Harapan in 2017 when it was the former opposition that built a mass movement against Umno and Barisan Nasional.

At the Memali event, Umno and PAS leaders spoke of how the recent BN by-election victory in Tg Piai, Johor, was a boost towards getting more support for muafakat nasional.

“Many people from Kedah, including from Baling, went down to campaign in Tg Piai,” said Umno vice-president Mahdzir Khalid.

“Tg Piai was the first step in the PAS-Umno journey, it represented the strength of muafakat nasional.”

PAS and Umno signed the muafakat nasional charter in September, which aims to create a political mass movement of parties and civil society groups against PH.

Even though Umno’s partners in BN, MCA and MIC, did not sign the charter, they have given tacit support by virtue of being still in the coalition.

In last weekend’s Tg Piai by-election, PAS went all out to campaign for MCA candidate Wee Jeck Seng, who defeated PH’s Karmaine Sardini by more than 15,000 votes.

But in Memali on Tuesday night, the villagers and the relatives of those who died were more interested in putting aside more than three decades of hostility towards Umno.

Rahimi Mat Ramli, 38, said he could not forget the tragedy but he felt no ill will towards anyone.

“It is good that Umno and PAS are together. As a survivor, I still remember Memali but I don’t wish any revenge towards anyone, particularly Umno.”

Rahimi was four years old on November 19, 1985 when police opened fire on a crowd of villagers protesting against the arrest of a local preacher and religious teacher, Ibrahim Mahmud or “Ibrahim Libya”.

Fourteen villagers, including Rahimi’s father, were killed. Four policemen also died when clashes broke out between security forces and villagers attempting to stop Ibrahim’s arrest.

Ibrahim, as well as his supporters, were part of the local PAS branch in the village.

According to a government white paper published in February 1986, Ibrahim and his supporters wanted to lead an armed movement against the government.

But Ibrahim’s supporters said the preacher was resisting attempts by the BN regime at the time to detain him under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

At Tuesday’s event, Umno and PAS leaders shared the stage to commemorate the tragedy along with about 3,000 members from both parties.

Umno was represented by among others, Mahdzir and Supreme Council member Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, while Idris Ahmad was among the top leaders from PAS.

Baling PAS division chief Hassan Saad said the crowd this year was the biggest so far owing to the presence of thousands of Umno members.

“The muafakat between PAS and Umno in Baling is strong despite the bitter tragedy between us.”

Religious teacher Mohd Yusud Abd Hamid said the presence of both Umno and PAS at the event proves that the two parties are now united beyond politics.

“I hope this will prove that we will stand together in all issues, not just politics. In the muafakat, we cannot just depend on Umno and PAS only but everyone who is sincere in the struggle.”

Rozali Ahmad, 60, who lost an uncle in the tragedy said he is happy that both Umno and PAS are now united.

“I am very happy to see PAS and Umno sitting together on the same stage. We were enemies before but now no more.” – November 22, 2019.