Apr 22: PAS today netted a very unlikely individual, who today declared his support for Pakatan Rakyat by handing over his PAS membership form.
Former Selangor Menteri Besar Muhammad Mohd Taib, a controversial figure from UMNO who once made headlines over his arrest in Australia for carrying a large amount of undeclared cash, today announced that he was ditching UMNO.
But perhaps anticipating a barrage of criticisms by PR supporters wary of the coalition accepting past UMNO leaders, Muhammad said he was not after any positions.
And this is proven true since his announcement is made after nominations day.
"I joined PAS not to become a candidate or to seek party posts," he said at an event to announce his PAS membership, accompanied by top party leaders including president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Mohamad Sabu and deputy Murshidul Am Dr Haron Din.
This morning, Muhammad, a former UMNO information chief who held the Selangor MB post for eleven years until 1997, informed UMNO secretary general Tengku Adnan Mansor of his decision.
A copy of his letter, dated today, is also sent to UMNO president Najib Razak.
Muhammad, fondly known as 'Mat Taib', said there was a pressing need for the nation's development to be injected with spiritual values.
According to Mat Taib, these days he spent his time in mosques and participate in sessions to deepen his religious knowledge.
In welcoming Mat Taib, Hadi said he had met him more than a year ago.
He said the announcement of Mat Taib's decision to join PAS was deliberately delayed to avoid any perception that he would be made a PAS candidate.
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