Mat Sabu’s Victory Is Not Total, Hands Still Tied

As the dust settles down and PAS delegates leave Shah Alam, the Islamist party’s future still a big question – will it play second fiddle in the opposition pact of Pakatan Rakyat (PR ) or distance itself and only co-operate on issues of mutual interests.

The victory of Mohamed Sabu or Mat Sabu as the party deputy president on Friday poll reflected the members’ choice to go all out with DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to capture Putrajaya, regardless of whether the Islamic state and Hudud laws agenda are sidelined or forgotten.

Despite the call by the party’s Ulamak Council and the resolution passed and adopted to review the party’s political co-operation in the opposition pact and delegates spoke of being treated as ‘step children in Penang” during the debate session, the fact remains in that the review will be done with everything in favour to strengthen the ties.

PAS leadership poll on Friday was a tell-tale sign that the fundamentalists faction has lost its internal war and its attempt to make a comeback was only half victory as it only got information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man in one of the three vice-president posts.

Even the 18 central committee members elected are split equally between the ulamaks and liberals which further dampens the ulamaks’ faction to put on track the party’s objectives and struggles.

And party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang did not commit in anyway to support the fundamentalists in his policy speech where he ‘played safe’ by not touching on internal friction and the problems within the opposition pact or about the ties in PR.

The fundamentalists with the backing of the Ulamak Council had tried to distance itself from the parties in PR as they found out the party is slowly moving far from its original objectives and its approach has changed from educating the public about Islam to fighting human rights issues.

Many party delegates who voted and members who attended the party 59^th general assembly as observers said Mat Sabu was chosen due to his availability and his readiness to go to the forefront of the battle whenever needed and not as assumed by outsiders that the liberals aligned to PKR de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is now in control of the party.

One of the delegates from Terengganu said Mat Sabu was chosen because he could rally the crowd when needed, he could face the police when needed and he was also willing to go to jail if need be.
“He is versatile and available as he does not hold any government post or an assemblyman or MP.
“And he can rally crowd to PAS ceramahs or events.

“Compared to Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar, despite being an ulamak and intellectual and refined, we cannot allow him to go down and lead a rally or face the police or risk being put in lock-ups a night or two.
“And party members and delegates know very well that Mat Sabu cannot make decision as deputy president nor can he dictate any decision.

“It (the decision) need to be tabled at the central committee and then referred to Dewan Ulamak (Ulamak Council) for endorsement before implementation.

“So to me and the delegates as well as party members, the question of liberals steering the party does not arise because of the check and balance.

“It is the practical thing to have Mat Sabu to be in the forefront with his brashness and guts,” he said.
How far the thoughts to the truth is not known but one thing for sure, Mat Sabu’s victory is obviously not total or wholesome because the party highest policy body which is the central committee still needs endorsements from the Ulamak Council for implementations of any decision.

In short, Mat Sabu’s hands are still tied despite having Datuk Husam Musa and Salehuddin Ayub in the vice-president posts to back him up.

And in such a situation, Anwar who is watching the party’s development and those close to him in PAS cannot laugh loud because the fundamentalists are still at the ‘driving wheel’.

And the delegates and observers left Shah Alam with a clear mind that the party is still in the hands of ulamaks.