PAS Erdogans face acid test

PETALING JAYA: Speculation is rife during the PAS muktamar (conference) this week that the Erdogan faction could be wiped out as resistance by the grassroots and the old guards' is said to be brewing into a “mini tsunami”.
The old guards are sceptical of the Erdogans' issue-based approach to aggressively gain political mileage as they have always believed in gaining public confidence for the long-term survival of PAS.
The central party elections on Friday will see two Erdogans (former Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and Kelantan executive councillor Datuk Husam Musa), two ulama (PAS information chief Idris Ahmad and Kelantan executive councillor Datuk Amar Abdullah), and two incumbents (Datuk Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub) contesting the three vice-president posts.
Of the 53 candidates vying for the 18 central committee posts, 15 are from the Erdogan faction while 14 are from the ulama faction.
Among the Erdogans contesting the central committee posts are elected representatives Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, Khalid Abdul Samad, Dr Halimah Ali, Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar, Dr Lo'Lo Mohd Ghazali, Firdaus Abdullah, Muhammad Husain, Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Sa'ari Sungib, and Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud.
Non-elected representative Erdogans in the running for the central committee posts are Hanipa Maidin, Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed, Anuar Tahir and Aiman Athirah Al-Jundi.
PAS ulama chief Datuk Harun Taib said the party had survived since its inception because the ulama and the professionals had always complemented each other.
“The ulama do not feel threatened at all by the professional group.
“But the Erdogans appear to be aggressive and they may not have the capability to take the party forward because they seem to harp on issues to gain support.
“We cannot sustain support based on issues, as it does not guarantee sustainable victory during a general election.
“PAS has always focused on gaining public confidence and acceptance of the multiracial society as it is crucial for the long-term survival of the party,” he said, stressing that he did not know the entire Erdogan “clan” in the party.

tunku : if pas wants to survive longer and stronger they need to get rid of all the erdogan's group in pas.they are the virus in pas planted by anwar.