SOME ANALYSTS SAY PAS NOT READY FOR PRIME-TIME POLITICS?

 

Dato' Seri Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang

Joceline Tan's analysis in  the Star line that doubts over PAS in Putrajaya

PAS’ final muktamar before the mother of all battles ended on a note that left doubts as to whether the party is ready for prime-time politics.

 ABU Kassim Abdullah is the most witty man in PAS. The Kedah-born permanent chairman of PAS has the ability to make everyone, including the stern-faced Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, laugh out loud at his cheeky remarks and pantun on stage. His jokes sometimes bite and poke at PAS leaders, but he never offends. Some of the ladies in the Muslimat wing complain he makes too many jokes about men with more than one wife and big families, but they still laugh along. He is unapologetic because he has two wives and many children and grandchildren. No one can do it quite like him and PAS members say it is a God-given talent.  His hair has turned grey and his goatee looks unkempt, but Abu Kassim’s humorous personality was one of the few familiar things at the muktamar this year.

 PAS is basically on unfamiliar territory. It is part of a coalition that has never been this close to power. Yet, many in the party are unsure whether the purity of the party’s Islamic agenda is being compromised. After three days of political speeches, delegates are going home with their heads filled with conflicting messages. On the one hand, they are told to downplay contentious issues like hudud law and the Islamic State as they prepare to face the general election. On the other hand, there are leaders cautioning the party not to stray from its origins as an Islamic party.

 One delegate even asked: “What good is winning Putrajaya if it means that we have to forgo our Islamic goal?”

 The calls from the floor insisting that Hadi is the best candidate for prime minister is an indication that people in the party are not sure whether the Pakatan Rakyat set-up will respect the party’s Islamic State principles. Deputy Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Omar assured members that Hadi will become the prime minister if PAS wins the most seats.

 Just because those who spoke at the muktamar did not attack Karpal Singh for opposing hudud does not mean that people in the party are not angry with DAP. They are just as furious about DAP as they are about MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. It is quite evident that the rank and file, especially those in the rural heartland, are still uncomfortable about DAP and PKR.

 Much of the exuberance about the Pakatan set-up come from the leaders, especially those who will be contesting seats, or as secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali puts it, those eyeing stalls to do business in the pasar malam. Mustafa has likened the general election to a pasar malam and the candidates as traders trying to win as many customers as they could. These would-be candidates are the ones most eager for the party to foster closer ties with Pakatan.

 Central committee member Dr Dzulkifly Ahmad, the man whom some of the ulama call the “leader of the Erdogans,” made an impassioned case for the party not to allow its cooperation with Pakatan to be sidetracked by issues. But the most fiery speech came from ulama figure Idris Ahmad. The PAS information chief launched a fierce attack on Umno, accusing it of being a party that has exploited the Malays. His was a hard-hitting speech that painted Umno as a party that rides on Malay issues, the Royalty and religion to win Malay votes.

 “In the daytime, Umno screams hidup Melayu, but in the night, they sell off Malay land,” Idris claimed.

 He was so intense and ferocious that Abu Kassim teased that Idris was “looking for a pasar malam stall”. Abu Kassim also could not resist adding: “Ustaz Idris contested twice in Jerlun but the umbrella at his stall could not open and people did not buy what he was selling. “Never mind, let’s see how he does this time.”

 The huge crowd that throng the opening and closing of the annual muktamar was missing. It may not mean anything, yet this is the final gathering before the big battle. Party leaders had expected more from the rank and file. The party is truly at the crossroads — it is at its most ambitious and also at its most insecure. The general election may facilitate the long overdue transition in the party. The second echelon is in place. The trouble is that none among the second echelon has that X-factor needed to lead the party. The current top ulama leadership dates back to the early years of PAS. They have aged and some are sickly.

 Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat could only make a token appearance this year. He did not make his usual wrapping-up speech and party officials said he had to go to the hospital every day because of a health ailment. The head of the Dewan Ulama, Datuk Harun Taib, is still keeping a low-profile after a stroke that affected his speech and movement. He was unable to address the muktamar and had to delegate the task to his deputy.

 Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak looked good although his health is said to be as delicate as that of Nik Aziz’s. He had to endure some gentle ribbing from Hadi, which many read as a hint that Azizan should call it a day. These ulama figures were all giants in their time but they are running out of steam at a time when it is needed the most. The party talked endlessly about Putrajaya but not everyone was convinced that the party is ready for prime-time politics. (The Star, 19 November 2012)