By Mohd Zuharman - The Malaysian Insider
Nasharudin announced new controls on party leaders making statements to the press. — file pic
Under the new system, only selected party leaders will be allowed to issue press statements.
The matter was announced by PAS vice president Nasharudin Mat Isa during a press conference after a Munaqasyah keynote address at Pengkalan Chepa yesterday.
Nasharudin, however, failed to provide details on the identity of these “selected leaders.”
“PAS gave the issue serious consideration. We have already discussed the matter at the Syura council meetings nearly two weeks ago,” he said.
He also did not point out the “offending” press releases that he was referring to.
The Malaysian Insider understands the issue stems from a series of party controversies in Selangor and Kelantan of late.
The Bachok member of parliament appeared to apportion some blame to the press, claiming the situation arose from media’s tendency to interpret and translate press releases according to their own preferences.
“They (the media) fail to deliver the true essence to the statements they are given.
“Many statements are reported completely differently [from what was intended]. They pick only portions of the statement and do with it as they please,” said Nasharudin.
He said this after being asked about the conflicting media statements that appear to have been making their rounds recently, which were confusing the public over party’s current affairs.
According to him, the PAS central committee yesterday had also decided to hold a “media benefits” seminar for the party’s own good.
Last Sunday, PAS had held a convention for bloggers.
Commenting on the widespread use of blogs by the various PAS leaders, Nasharudin pointed out that he was not denying that modern technology was beneficial to society as a whole.
“But let’s be rational. Have facts and evidence when you’re expressing yourself or making a statement through blogs,” he said.
The Munaqasyah keynote address programme is an annual activity that the party holds at the federal, state, and district levels.
The policy speech entitled “Islam leads change” was delivered by party president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang at the 55th Annual Muktamar some six months ago.
Also present was Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner III, Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, who is also the chief of PAS Pengkalan Chepa.
Mohd Amar, touching on current political challenges, said PAS’ strength and success in facing these difficulties stemmed from its adherence to the principles of faith and brotherhood.
“PAS inherited these two principles from the ulamas of before and has practised them since its founding in 1951,” he said
According to him, the failure to live up to this philosophy in the party’s struggles is because the nation’s political culture is easily tainted by negative elements.
“This is the source of many of the instances of breach of trust, bribery, abuse of power, and more. Even jet engines can go missing, something which makes no sense at all and humiliates the country on the world stage.
“Mosques collapse, stadiums collapse, bridges collapse; all these collapses have become so commonplace,” he added.
As such, Mohd Amar urged PAS members at all levels to always strengthen their adherence to the party’s founding principles, especially on the eve of the coming 13th general elections.
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