KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Retired senior policeman Datuk Fauzi Shaari has joined PAS, the first big name to sign up with the Islamist party which has embarked on a campaign to recruit key establishment figures to help shore up voter support ahead of looming polls.
Harakah Daily, the opposition party’s paper, reported today that Fauzi handed in his membership form to party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and deputy president Mohamad Sabu in Ulu Sepetang, near Larut, Perak last night.
Fauzi (left) hands over his application form to be a PAS member to Hadi on May 20, 2012. — Picture courtesy of Sinar Harian
The ceremony was witnessed by some 5,000 Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters, the paper reported.
Fauzi was reported as saying his reason for joining the Islamist party was not to contest in the general election, which must be held within the next one year, or out of certain interests but to help PAS in its religious efforts.
The ex-Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director, the third highest office in the force, was reported by Harakah as saying he had joined PAS after being confident he had not been involved in any criminal activities while in the force.
Fauzi, who once helmed the Dang Wangi district police force here, was reported to be known for busting vice activities in the capital city.
His strong anti-vice stand then had been criticised by a minister, which Harakah reported had described would deter tourists from visiting the country.
Fauzi, who is from Pantai Besar, Batu Kurau, Perak, was also reported as saying he would help campaign for PR, especially PAS, through various organised talks.
Fauzi was rumoured to be joining PAS a month ago along with former Bukit Aman commercial crimes investigation chief Datuk Ramli Yusoff and ex-Umno Cabinet minister Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.
Ramli and Abdul Kadir, who is deputy president of Amanah, an NGO headed by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, have denied that they have already joined PAS despite the latter having quit Umno recently after accusing the party of being plagued by money politics.
Fauzi, who retired from the police force about two years ago, has remained under the radar.
The Malaysian Insider also reported that PAS wants Ramli and Abdul Kadir to contest in a general election that must be held within a year.
Ramli has consistently pressured the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government to set up a tribunal to investigate claims of abuse of power against the Attorney-General.
PAS leaders who spoke to The Malaysian Insider confirmed that “overtures” and informal “invitations” had been made to the two with regards to joining PAS, but neither Abdul Kadir nor Ramli have made a decision over the matter.
Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad had said such individuals would provide a detailed description of the crimes committed by the BN government in the past.
“They are from the system. These are the people who are now critical of the system, having previously been proponents of it. Having seen its flaws, they are willing to come out in the open to demonise the same system,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
Abdul Kadir also confirmed that both PAS and PKR had “suggested” that he join either party before the national polls, but said that he “had not decided” on joining a political party as yet.
The former Umno supreme council member said he has attended one PAS ceramah so far as a guest speaker, and will continue to attend PR ceramahs and programmes.
