There appears to be an attempt by certain quarters to drag the military into partisan politics - and this is an insult to the Agong, PAS says.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, who is widely known as Mat Sabu, said such attempts smacked of demeaning the Agong as the military comes directly under His Majesty's purview.
According to Mat Sabu, the military, under the Agong and Malay sultans, has been doing a fine job protecting the country since Independence, without being involved in partisan politics.
However, since the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur, the army has been dragged into partisan politics through various activities, including having joint crowd-control training with the police.
"Any attempt to drag the military into politics must be stopped immediately," he told reporters at in Komtar, Penang yesterday.
"The involvement of the military in politics is unhealthy. It must maintain its neutrality at all times."
Mat Sabu was referring to the press conference called by four ex-military personnel on Wednesday who confessed to committing election fraud.
The four revealed that on the orders of their commanding officers, they had marked thousands of postal votes in three separate general elections between 1978 and 1999 while serving at army and air force bases across the country.
This revelation is the second after an ex-army man came forward earlier this month, claiming that he too was ordered to mark postal votes for other military personnel.
In an immediate response, Armed Forces chief General Zulkifeli Mohd Zin described the whistleblowers as traitors. In an emotional statement, Zulkifeli questioned the loyalty of those making the allegations in a rare press conference held on Thursday.
PAS to hold 60th anniversary bash in Penang
However, Mat Sabu defended the expose by the army personnel and blamed the Defence Ministry and Election Commission (EC) for their complicity.
He said both the ministry and the EC should assume responsibility for the alleged fraud.
"Any response from the military will be seen as partisan," he lamented. "Also, the ministry and EC must investigate the allegations."
He said history has taught us that it was unwise for the military to be involved in politics.
"The army's involvement in politics or political parties can only undermine democracy and the national security of the country," he added.
Mat Sabu also announced that PAS would be celebrating its 60th anniversary on Oct 1.
According to him, Penang will play host to the event, which should have been commemorated in August but was postponed because of the fasting month.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, who is widely known as Mat Sabu, said such attempts smacked of demeaning the Agong as the military comes directly under His Majesty's purview.
According to Mat Sabu, the military, under the Agong and Malay sultans, has been doing a fine job protecting the country since Independence, without being involved in partisan politics.
However, since the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur, the army has been dragged into partisan politics through various activities, including having joint crowd-control training with the police.
"Any attempt to drag the military into politics must be stopped immediately," he told reporters at in Komtar, Penang yesterday.
"The involvement of the military in politics is unhealthy. It must maintain its neutrality at all times."
Mat Sabu was referring to the press conference called by four ex-military personnel on Wednesday who confessed to committing election fraud.
The four revealed that on the orders of their commanding officers, they had marked thousands of postal votes in three separate general elections between 1978 and 1999 while serving at army and air force bases across the country.
This revelation is the second after an ex-army man came forward earlier this month, claiming that he too was ordered to mark postal votes for other military personnel.
In an immediate response, Armed Forces chief General Zulkifeli Mohd Zin described the whistleblowers as traitors. In an emotional statement, Zulkifeli questioned the loyalty of those making the allegations in a rare press conference held on Thursday.
PAS to hold 60th anniversary bash in Penang
However, Mat Sabu defended the expose by the army personnel and blamed the Defence Ministry and Election Commission (EC) for their complicity.
He said both the ministry and the EC should assume responsibility for the alleged fraud.
"Any response from the military will be seen as partisan," he lamented. "Also, the ministry and EC must investigate the allegations."
He said history has taught us that it was unwise for the military to be involved in politics.
"The army's involvement in politics or political parties can only undermine democracy and the national security of the country," he added.
Mat Sabu also announced that PAS would be celebrating its 60th anniversary on Oct 1.
According to him, Penang will play host to the event, which should have been commemorated in August but was postponed because of the fasting month.
