GEORGE TOWN: PAS’ longest serving president Abdul Hadi Awang has to make a big decision on the future direction of the party at the coming muktamar (party elections).
Having been at the helm since 2002, Abdul Hadi has largely witnessed and steered the rise of PAS into a formidable party with over one million members and millions in assets, including a thriving alternative media network.
Besides several other organisations in Indonesia and the Philippines, PAS is seen as the major Islamic movement in the region.
The party with a sound financial standing holds various charity events throughout the country.
PAS has played a role as an indirect mediator in conflicts involving Muslims in southern Thailand, southern Philippines, Acheh in Indonesia and Myanmar.
The party’s rise has come at the expense of Umno and is now reputable enough to be seen as a replacement to the main party in the ruling coalition, having governed Kedah and Terengganu once, and as the government in Kelantan for the last 22 years.
PAS political observers said Abdul Hadi, 65, should take cognizance of the fact that the top leaders in the party were now above 60 and ailing.
Abdul Hadi must make strategic decisions over the future direction of PAS after a lukewarm performance in the last general election.
Its alliances with PKR and DAP will also influence the party and Abdul Hadi in making a decision on the party’s future.
There are three groups in the party – technocrats (liberals), the ulama (fundamentalists) and the young (hardline ulama) – although none of the PAS leaders dare admit the presence of factionism.
Will Abdul Hadi allow the young turks in the youth wing to dictate policy or will he opt for a status quo – a balance of liberal leaders, such as Mohammed Mat Sabu, Husam Musa or Sallehuddin Ayub and fundamentalists like Haron Din, Harun Taib or Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Mat.
Being more people-centric
University Science Malaysia political scientist Associate Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian agreed that Abdul Hadi had to made a decision on the party’s direction.
He said PAS politics was about the ulama versus technocrats and of late, the emerging youth wing.
“Abdul Hadi must make a decision. It would be difficult if the delegates choose a composition of the three groups for the party positions.
“It may be clearer if the delegates choose one group during the party elections,” said Sivamurugan.
He said whatever the outcome, Abdul Hadi must make a choice for the party to move forward.
It was also reported that there is also a call from within Umno to revive efforts to discuss a Malay unity agenda between both the parties.
PAS Supporters Club Council president Hu Phang Chaw said he did not believe in the presence of ulama or technocrats in PAS, adding that all are ulama as far as he can recollect.
However, he said there was an emerging group of young leaders.
For him, PAS should retain a balance of liberal and conservative-minded leaders, but their political struggle should shift to be more people-centric rather than addressing religious issues, such as the Islamic-state concept.
Having been at the helm since 2002, Abdul Hadi has largely witnessed and steered the rise of PAS into a formidable party with over one million members and millions in assets, including a thriving alternative media network.
Besides several other organisations in Indonesia and the Philippines, PAS is seen as the major Islamic movement in the region.
The party with a sound financial standing holds various charity events throughout the country.
PAS has played a role as an indirect mediator in conflicts involving Muslims in southern Thailand, southern Philippines, Acheh in Indonesia and Myanmar.
The party’s rise has come at the expense of Umno and is now reputable enough to be seen as a replacement to the main party in the ruling coalition, having governed Kedah and Terengganu once, and as the government in Kelantan for the last 22 years.
PAS political observers said Abdul Hadi, 65, should take cognizance of the fact that the top leaders in the party were now above 60 and ailing.
Abdul Hadi must make strategic decisions over the future direction of PAS after a lukewarm performance in the last general election.
Its alliances with PKR and DAP will also influence the party and Abdul Hadi in making a decision on the party’s future.
There are three groups in the party – technocrats (liberals), the ulama (fundamentalists) and the young (hardline ulama) – although none of the PAS leaders dare admit the presence of factionism.
Will Abdul Hadi allow the young turks in the youth wing to dictate policy or will he opt for a status quo – a balance of liberal leaders, such as Mohammed Mat Sabu, Husam Musa or Sallehuddin Ayub and fundamentalists like Haron Din, Harun Taib or Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Mat.
Being more people-centric
University Science Malaysia political scientist Associate Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian agreed that Abdul Hadi had to made a decision on the party’s direction.
He said PAS politics was about the ulama versus technocrats and of late, the emerging youth wing.
“Abdul Hadi must make a decision. It would be difficult if the delegates choose a composition of the three groups for the party positions.
“It may be clearer if the delegates choose one group during the party elections,” said Sivamurugan.
He said whatever the outcome, Abdul Hadi must make a choice for the party to move forward.
It was also reported that there is also a call from within Umno to revive efforts to discuss a Malay unity agenda between both the parties.
PAS Supporters Club Council president Hu Phang Chaw said he did not believe in the presence of ulama or technocrats in PAS, adding that all are ulama as far as he can recollect.
However, he said there was an emerging group of young leaders.
For him, PAS should retain a balance of liberal and conservative-minded leaders, but their political struggle should shift to be more people-centric rather than addressing religious issues, such as the Islamic-state concept.
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