PAS general assembly in November is expected to be a stormy affair with
several factions scrambling to dominate the leadership as the party
loosening up its hard stand on Umno.
On one side, the party has the Kelantan faction headed by Husam Musa who
was angry when he was pushed aside, dashing his dream of becoming the
Mentri Besar or at the very least Deputy Mentri besar.
This group is known for its close affiliation with Parti Keadilan Rakyat
(PKR) de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim which explains why former Kelantan
Mentri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat bent the party’s stand on several matters
to suit the party’s stand to that of PKR.
Then there is the Terengganu faction headed by party president Abdul
Hadi awing with his ‘side-kick’ party secretary-general Mustapha Ali,
who are fundamentalists but changes according to political needs.
The fundamentalists have been defending the party from the ‘invasion’ of
Anwar’s friends into the leadership but they failed in 2009 when their
candidate Nasharuddin Isa was defeated by Mohamed Sabu for the deputy
president post.
And recently, emerging from the verbal conflict between PAS and DAP on
several Islamic issues, is the youth wing that called on the party
leadership to stick to its original struggles.
The factions in the party have been at loggerheads but managed to keep
their differences low in the wake of the general election and to project
the good and close relationship with the other parties in the
opposition pact of Pakatan Rakyat.
However, after the conclusion of the general election and with Anwar and
DAP continuing questioning the election results through rallies, PAS is
distancing itself and softening on its stand to Umno.
PAS is softening up given the change in the political landscape that cut
through racial lines as reflected in the result of the general election
despite needing the Chinese votes for the party’s survival.
The party leaders, particularly the fundamentalists are wary of the need
for Malay dominance which form the basis of the party’s pillar although
Islam is the party’s brand and struggle.
Given such a background, the party assembly to be held this November is
expected to be stormy as delegates pick the leaders for the next three
year-term and at the same time chart the party’s path.
Top on the list to be debated with be the co-operation with Umno in the
name of Malay unity as the party youth wing intends to explore the
possibility of a closer and more understanding relationship.
The youth wing leaders and members have been vocal against DAP’s Karpal
Singh and Lim Guan Eng on several matters concerning Islam and its
principles, especially when Karpal belittle the role of PAS Ulamak
Council that has kept the party on its Islamic track against the wishes
and desires of Anwar and DAP.
Then the party election where Anwar’s friends are expected to contest
all posts except the president post where Husam is the main player in
leading the group, this time replacing Mohamed Sabu with himself as
candidate for deputy president.
It will be a stormy assembly where the several factions are expected to
collude and the assembly taking the party to a new path – maybe with
Umno or on its own.
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