Factions in PAS a positive sign’

PETALING JAYA: PAS research centre head Dzulkefly Ahmad feels that factions and contests in the party brings about dynamism and awareness among members to be alert on who they want as leaders.

“I would not want to even call it a conflict or divide. I personally feel that it is one of dynamics of our party,” he said in an interview with FMT.

PAS consists of religious leaders, professionals, as well as social rights activists and many have said that the party is therefore split between the conservative clerics and liberal professionals.

Dzulkefly said claiming that the party had no conflict at all would be incorrect.

“I would not want to be in denial. If I were to say that it is non-existent I think that is not quite right,” he said.

He urged all members to abide to the party’s code of conduct.

“We are now able to outwardly campaign. We have been given the code of conduct on how to campaign and not bring down another,” he said.

Dzulkefly said the good points about the candidates could be discussed but attempts to demonise them were prohibited.

“Hopefully we will see that all these will be observed by all contestants and supporters,” he said.

He added that the professionals were less aggressive in their campaigns compared with the religious leaders.

However, he hoped that through debates and forums, voices of the two factions could be heard.

“We will be having some forums and platforms to debate issues.

“Hopefully, we will have a better chance of listening to both sides and see how we can improve the party,” he said