KUALA LUMPUR: The just-concluded PAS assembly (muktamar) has one clear message: next year’s party election will be hotly contested.
The reason is simple – the young liberals who are loyal to PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim will once again attempt to take over the leadership and re-chart the party’s future.
The setting up of a non-Muslim supporters wing did not go down well with these young liberals who fear it will not only dilute PAS’ influence but also weaken PKR.
The new wing will register non-Muslims regardless of their political inclinations and ideologies.
The party leadership had intended to “fish” Chinese from the MCA and Indians from the MIC – the two Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties that are currently facing a credibility crisis.
The wing offers a new platform for disgruntled members of the two parties to contest against BN in the next general election under the PAS banner.
However, the strategy seems to have backfired as PKR, plagued with internal problems, is not too happy with PAS’ move.
The Indians in PKR feel they have been treated unfairly and have even threatened to leave the party if their voices are not heard.
The Chinese members, though strongly supportive of the party, are said to be looking at alternative platforms to “free” themselves of the hold the Malay leaders have on the party.
'Head-on collision'
Now with PAS offering an avenue, there is no denying that these “disgruntled” people would seize the opportunity without having to join any party in BN and being tagged as “traitors”.
Given this new development and the threat posed by the new wing to Pakatan Rakyat, the young liberals in PAS are said to be drawing up strategies to sway the party’s direction.
Moreover, the muktamar did not harp on pursuing its objective of setting up an Islamic state, probably because such a commitment might drive away potential non-Muslim supporters.
Thus, next year’s party election may see a replay of a “head-on collision” between the young liberals and the old party stalwarts or the fundamentalists.
In reality, both the groups have the same objectives but their approaches and priorities are different.
For the fundamentalists, their ultimate aim is to have a PAS leader as prime minister while the young liberals want Anwar as the premier.
For the fundamentalists, PAS must be the dominant party in any pacts or alliances forged and must never play second-fiddle to any partner, while for the liberals, their main aim is to bring down the BN government.
'Seeds of distrust'
Come next year, the troubles in PAS are expected to surface, given that the liberals do not want to see seats contested by DAP and PKR in the next general election being also contested by non-Muslims under the PAS flag.
Although PAS secretary-general Mustapa Ali said discussions were being held on this issue to prevent it from happening, members on the ground are doubtful.
A member, when met at the muktamar on Saturday, said it would be difficult to dismiss the demands of the non-Muslim wing for electoral seats.
“If their demands are dismissed, it would sow the seeds of distrust in the new wing towards the leadership. When this occurs, what will happen to the wing then?” he asked.
Given the fear that PAS would jeopardise the present good relationship with DAP and PKR by giving in to the demands of the new wing (to contest in seats held by its two partners), the liberals are left with one option – unseat the fundamentalists and steer the party away from a damaging internal warfare before the next general election.
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