Holding PAS to its Islamic line

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — It used to be easy to differentiate between PAS and Umno but the Islamist party seminar yesterday showed its members are now concerned over a blurring of lines and its future direction in the Pakatan Rakyat.

Some 1,000 PAS delegates at the special seminar to strengthen the party and affirm its place in the Pakatan Rakyat concluded that the party must stick to its Islamic line even at the expense of the federal opposition pact.

But they were uninamously adamant to also keep clear of political rivals Umno. “We want PAS to replace Umno, not unite with them,” party vice-president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said succinctly.

That was the last nail in the coffin of unity talks with Umno, which has persistently used that point to drive a wedge among PAS leaders.

Party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had once talked up the idea but yesterday conceded PAS’s future lies with Pakatan Rakyat due to the political reality of wooing both Muslim and non-Muslim voters.

He also showed that he could take and dish out criticisms, referring to UIA law professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari who had castigated the party leadership from straying from its principles to hold unity talks with Umno.

Although a handful were hurt by Abdul Aziz’s criticism of the leadership, most took it in their stride unlike the stage-managed support shown in Umno conventions.

An unrepentant Abdul Aziz stirred up the seminar when he wondered why some still wanted to flirt with Umno despite overwhelming support for PAS to remain in Pakatan Rakyat and strike its own path to power.

But the delegates remained wary of Pakatan Rakyat despite spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat’s endorsement for the pact, saying they were suspicious what role Islam can play with allies DAP and PKR.

They wanted the party to stick to its Islamic line, which has been blurred by Umno’s active Islamic campaigns that have included enacting laws such as caning for alcohol consumption and even the latest clerical row between the Selangor Islamic authorities using a Barisan Nasional-era rule to stop popular ex-Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin from preaching.

PAS has been actively courting the maverick cleric to join them, with Umno just as enthusiastic that the man popular with the young and non-Muslims can help swing votes their way.

For PAS, getting the young is now a priority for the next general elections and they were gratified to learn Nik Aziz was more popular among the youths in Election 2008 than president Abdul Hadi, the fiery cleric who has now grown into a placid politician hankering for Malay unity in the mold of political rival, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

However, to their consternation, the delegates also learnt only three other PAS leaders had any brand-name recognition, ousted Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, the popular Mohamed Sabu and Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak.

They blamed it on poor coverage and support by the media, including their own Harakah newspaper, and noted the role of new media to shape perceptions about their leaders and the party.

But they know its a rocky road ahead to the next general elections and their work has just begun, especially in clarifying the PAS brand with their rule over two states, Kelantan and Kedah.

UM professor Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah made that point clear for them, saying that the trend to support the opposition could change in the next general elections.

“The days of ABU, Anything But Umno, is over,” he said bluntly.

And that is something PAS and its allies DAP and PKR will have to think deeply going into their second year running four states.