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Although the PAS central committee meeting yesterday ended with the
decision to only hold a political seminar instead of an EGM on Nov 7 and to
investigate Selangor PAS, it did manage to highlight the issue of "problematic
leaders" in the party.
To political observer Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari, the decision was not important as
PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat managed to convey his message
and the result would be seen in time to come.
"He was able to open the eyes of those concerned to see that there were
problematic leaders in the party who should be removed. It may not happen now
as it's impossible for these leaders to quit their posts.
"But the message will be remembered by the delegates during the next party
elections," said the law lecturer at the International Islamic University Malaysia.
Before this, Nik Aziz had asked PAS to convene an extraordinary general
meeting (EGM) to allow the party delegates to decide on the position of certain
leaders regarded as problematic, including those seen as pro-Umno.
Among the problematic leaders named by Nik Aziz were PAS president Datuk
Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, secretary-general
Datuk Mustafa Ali and Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali.
Abdul Aziz believed that Nik Aziz was also conveying a message to the
non-Malay voters that he did not approve what was happening in Selangor PAS.
On the ban proposed by Hasan on the sale of alcohol in Muslim-majority areas
in Selangor, he said Nik Aziz was aware that it had caused PAS to lose support
from among the non-Muslims.
"He knows that PAS is facing the risk of losing more non-Muslim support if
the party continues this way, and that's why he is making noise to win back
their support for PAS."
However, he rejected the idea that Nik Aziz's action against certain party
leaders would split PAS.
"History has shown that PAS has never split despite any internal conflict.
This is just another storm in a teacup and they will continue to be together
until a solution is found," he said.
Another political observer who wished anonymity, said PAS was now troubled
by a number of issues which were difficult to resolve.
"In my opinion, the crisis stems from the differences of opinion between the
conservative ulama and the more liberal ones. And PAS is now working together
with two parties which are clearly liberal and have different wants.
"They only have one thing in common, that is, to take over the federal
government. But in terms of ideology, the difference is like heaven and earth.
PAS is adamant about setting up an Islamic state, but it this what the DAP and
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) want too?," said the political observer.
He said on the alcohol issue, Hadi was unable to use his power to carry out
the decision of the Syura (Consultative) Council to advise Hasan, as the action
would give the message that PAS condoned the sale of alcoholic drinks in
Muslim-majority areas.
"In fact, if we look back at the Elizabeth Wong video scandal, PAS severed
itself from the issue, bearing in mind that it is an Islamist party and although
Elizabeth is not a Muslim, her action was still a moral issue which should not
be supported by PAS."
Based on this argument, he sees the party's decision to investigate PAS
Selangor as just an attempt to please certain quarters.
"They may investigate but what is the outcome? Will they be brave enough to
remove Hasan? I feel this issue will eventually die a natural death," he said.
His conclusion was that the leadership crisis in PAS would continue, but PAS
always had a formula to unite its members in such a situation.
"This may be due to the fact that the formation of the party was based on
religion and the leaders still hold steadfast to this principle, at least for
public show although there is internal bickering," he said.
Political analyst Asri Salleh said Nik Aziz's "shaking the PAS vessel" could
be due to increasing public support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
"I see two kinds of pressure being faced by PAS now due to the rising
support for Najib. One is that there are people in PAS who want the party to
cooperate with Umno while there are those who want it to remain in the
opposition pact until the 13th general election.
"The first group is worried that if they don't cooperate with Umno now, they
will miss the chance because if you look at the current situation, Umno and
Barisan Nasional may win big in the next general election.
"While the other group wants PAS to remain in the opposition pact, as a
religious leader, Nik Aziz would want to keep his promise to be loyal to the
pact," said Asri who is a lecturer at the Faculty of Administrative Science and
Policy Studies, UiTM campus in Dungun, Terengganu.
Asri also did not dismiss the possibility that the PAS spiritual leader is
being pressured by the ulama professionals linked to PKR de facto leader Datuk
Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as they are worried that PAS may leave the opposition
pact. "To me, PAS is now at a crossroad but they need to decide whether they
want to remain committed to the opposition pact or to work with Umno," he said.
Based on the observers' views and political chatter at the coffeeshops, it
can be deduced that PAS is actually at a crosssroad and unable to decide as they
are caught between their icon (Nik Aziz) and the party's direction.
At the moment, it is highly unlikely they will remove the revered spiritual
leader. Yet they need to decide whether to remain in an alliance with different
ideologies or follow the political current and work with Umno, which has now
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