Delegates debating Hadi's keynote address declared their allegiance to the top leadership, promising to carry out whatever decisions made despite expected recriminations about the secret meetings with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over Malay unity and Islamic issues.
Not only did they dispense with the criticisms, which was the highlight in the youth assembly on Thursday, the delegates also approved of future meetings with their dreaded political enemy Umno - as long as the aim is to bring the Malay party to agree with Pas's struggle.
Johor delegate Mohd Rozali Jamil said while Umno was a political enemy, its members should be perceived as those who had yet to receive the "good news"of Islam.
"Communicate with them, no problem. As long as our intention is to bring them to join us," Mohd Rozali told the general assembly here.
Other delegates expressed worry that their enthusiasm for the nascent Pakatan Rakyat coalition could tear them away from Islam as politics seemed more tempting and exciting than missionary work.
Terengganu delegate Mohd Noor Hamzah took up this theme, reminding Pakatan allies that their relationship was just as "friends", and Pas would always insist on Islam being respected in whatever circumstances.
Penang representative Mohd Fahmi Wahab agreed with Mohd Noor, comparing the coalition of Pas, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat as a marriage with some problems.
"Imagine if we're married, surely it is a problem for us if the kampung people start to ask, how come you are still sleeping at the verandah instead of in the bedroom," he said eliciting mirth in the hall packed with delegates in full Islamic-inspired garb complete with beards and turbans.
Before the audience could stop laughing, he deadpanned, "after four months of being together, surely people will also ask us, how come we don't see the wife having morning sickness."
Mohd Fahmi had earlier complained that the DAP-led state government has yet to invite Penang Pas leaders to discuss the future of the state. Pas has one assemblyman in the state.
Malacca delegate Kamaruddin Sidek sided with the leadership by asking them to ignore "unreasonable" demands from the grassroots, saying criticisms against the meetings with Umno were unfair and cautioned Pas members from helping PKR form branches in some states as they should focus on strengthening their own party.
The delegates, most of them religious scholars chosen by the respective state liaison committees, obediently followed the tone Hadi set in his presidential speech. Only Negri Sembilan representative Zakaria Salleh struck a discordant note in the choir by reminding the leaders not to fall into Umno's trap.
While the delegates gave him the mandate to push Pas towards a bigger if not senior role in the Pakatan Rakyat, Hadi showed his political acumen by being gracious to show support for Anwar when he directed the party to help the former deputy prime minister's campaign in the Permatang Pauh by-election that begins today.
The party will use its network on the ground to ensure voters come out and cast their ballots for Anwar on polling day Aug 26 - a show of strength and a reminder to its allies that it has unrivalled grassroots support to help form the next federal government with possibly Hadi in the driver's seat.
And that will just underline the fact that by tomorrow, after Pas leaders wind up the debate, the nation will see a more united Islamist party under Hadi's stewardship.
- The Malaysian Insider
