Soul-searching in a changed political landscape
ANALYSIS BY JOCELINE TAN
PAS has always projected itself as a party
aspiring to power but it does not seem to be enjoying the taste of power now
that it is part of the ruling coalition in five states.
PAS flags and banners of its two famous Tok Guru have dominated parts
of Ipoh the
last few days to mark the three-day party muktamar. It was an interesting contrast to Ipoh’s Chinatown sort of image. PAS has a long history in Perak
but this is the first time the party is enjoying such a high profile in the
state capital.
Among the guests at the opening of the muktamar was Pakatan Rakyat
leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
This year, the VVIP guests sat onstage with the PAS leadership and Anwar and
his PKR president wife Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail were among them.
It was quite ironic because just a day earlier, Anwar and the Pakatan Rakyat
coalition which he leads had been severely criticised by delegates at the Youth
wing assembly.
Many in the Youth wing did not support the idea of Anwar as Prime Minister,
they saw DAP leaders as anti-Islam and they had a tonne of complaints about the
Pakatan Rakyat leadership in Selangor and Penang.
They are also angry with Perak, but Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar
Jamaluddin was spared, probably because he is the host.
But Anwar was his usual charming self although he must have known that, just
a seat away, was another Prime Minister-in-waiting, namely PAS president Datuk
Seri Hadi Awang whom PAS members see as a more worthy candidate for the job.
It looks like there are now a total of three Prime Ministers-in-waiting in
the country.
The fire and brimstone at the Youth assembly carried over to the main muktamar
as the Pakatan Rakyat continued to come under attack.
The PAS grassroots, especially, seem to be struggling with the idea of being
the ruling party. Some of them have this unrealistic notion that the Pakatan
Rakyat administration should be run ala Kelantan where politics and religion go
hand-in-glove.
They are so used to working within their own close-knit party circle that it
has been a culture shock for them to deal with the more diverse political
culture of PKR and DAP.
It is clear that PAS members want the party to be the dominant member of the
coalition so that it can determine the Islamic agenda. They want to play the
role that Umno plays in the Barisan Nasional.
Hadi encapsulated this thinking when he described the party as a “kingmaker”
in national politics.
Their opposition to Anwar as a future Prime Minister is not personal; they
simply do not believe that Anwar is interested in an Islamic government should
he come to power.
Much of the political criticism from the ground also has to do with fighting
over the spoils of war. Members feel they are not getting due respect although
they contributed to the electoral successes of PKR and DAP.
“To fight and win elections is the easy part. Managing the victory, that is
the hard part. What we are going through is new to us,” said PAS deputy
president Nasharudin Mat Isa.
The slogan for this year’s muktamar “PAS untuk semua” (PAS is
for everyone) seems like a misnomer given the “ultra tone” of the gathering so
far. The views expressed have been anything but inclusive.
PAS’ Islamic agenda may be fine for Kelantan where non-Muslims make up only
about 10% of the population.
But in mixed states like Selangor, Perak, Penang and even Kedah, PAS may find itself rejected if it pushes its hardline
policies.
Despite grassroots misgivings about Anwar and Pakatan Rakyat, a delegation
of PAS leaders and members will be at the Permatang Pauh nomination today to
show their support for the PKR leader.
The fact that the powerful Mursyidul Am Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and vice-presidents
Datuk Husam Musa and Mohamed Sabu are heading the delegation ought to send a
strong signal to the PAS grassroots about the party’s ties with the coalition.
“The political scenario is still evolving but we are committed to the
Pakatan Rakyat,” said PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar.
The muktamar is turning out to be a sort of soul-searching for the
party as it makes its way through the changed political landscape.
