|
The problem in the past has been that for non-Muslims, Pas has been "unelectable" due to fear of Islamisation. While March 8 proved non-Muslims are willing to vote for a more moderate Pas, inconsistencies in how the party conducts itself only breeds contempt and doubts over its sincerity. By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider
The tug-of-war between the conservative ulama faction which controls the leadership of Pas, and the more moderate Erdogan group, has once again spilled out into the open. The recent upheavals in Pas Selangor, when moderates Hulu Kelang state assemblyman Saari Sungip and the church-visiting Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad were removed from the state committee, has led to talk of an ongoing purge of Erdogan faction members by the ulama group. The Erdogan moniker is in reference to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's close relationship with the Turkish leader Reccip Tayip Erdogan, and signifies their support for Anwar. This group is backed by Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, and appears to be supported by a majority of party members. The conservative ulama faction, on the other hand, represents the views of its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and a majority of the leadership, who want to distance themselves from Anwar's ambitions. What happened in Selangor suggests it is but the first of many skirmishes heading up to next July's muktamar, or party general assembly, where party elections will be held. The sudden move by Pas Selangor to apply pressure on the state government to ban alcohol sales is also a reflection of the infighting which is happening now in the party. While PKR, widely accepted as the main agenda-setters of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance, holds its annual congress this weekend, the problem of Pas weighs heavily and may usurp proceedings. PKR and to a greater extent DAP, have sat uneasily as time and again, Pas has displayed its ability to rattle the coalition. From Bumiputera issues to the stunning exposure of Umno-Pas talks, non-Muslims have been given ample reason not to shed its mistrust of the Islamic party. But for the moderate Erdogan group, led by vice president Datuk Husam Musa and secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar, winning the hearts of the non-Muslims is the desired end, and the means is by winning over their own Malay Muslim grassroots first. Politically and theologically, they believe that for the party to achieve national acceptance, its grassroots must believe in being inclusive rather than play the divisive zero-sum game of "exterminating enemies of our race and religion." A prominent moderate, Pas research chief Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has taken it upon himself to go to the ground to spread the "gospel" of Prophet Muhammad's role as arbitrator in Medina. According to Islamic tradition, despite being in the minority Muslim community there, the Prophet had become the arbitrator and resolved longstanding grievances between the various tribes in Medina, and even drafted the Constitution of Medina. "Instead of forcing Islam down their throats, why not communicate Islam?" is his message, as he travels with slideshows of how non-Muslim votes are necessary to beat the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. The problem in the past has been that for non-Muslims, Pas has been "unelectable" due to fear of Islamisation. While March 8 proved non-Muslims are willing to vote for a more moderate Pas, inconsistencies in how the party conducts itself only breeds contempt and doubts over its sincerity. The Erdogan group is now fighting back against what they see as regressive steps. Championing of Bumiputera rights, for example, is seen as an area which is not considered a priority by the moderates. It is an Islamic, not a Malay party, they contend. As it stands, party members can generally agree on one thing - that Umno is the enemy, the embodiment of all that must be purged from the "Muslimin and Muslimat." So why copy its racial chauvinism? Instead, the Erdogan group is backing a more humble approach. Khalid, when asked on his ejection from the Selangor committee, was gracious in conceding that state chief Datuk Dr Hassan Ali should be allowed to work with a team he was most comfortable with. "We are not here to displace them. We are happy to play second fiddle. We cannot deny that the base is the conservative northern and eastern Malay belt, but we are here to add value," a leading Erdogan member told The Malaysian Insider. "I believe the hardliners are all sincere without any sinister motive. They are well-meaning," Dzulkelfy had told The Malaysian Insider recently. The Erdogan group will likely grit its teeth from now until next year's muktamar and persevere even if its rank and file continue to be "persecuted." What it believes must be done, is for it not to be seen as a threat but as a vital element in establishing Pas as a national party. The catch-22 for the hardline ulama group is while it fears the party will be taken over by the moderates, it also needs these personalities. But if the Erdogan group is not backed by the grassroots in the party elections, it may very well be curtains for Pakatan Rakyat. "In the next six months or so, leading up to the muktamar, we need to consolidate and work on coalition building with our PR partners. If we cannot do this by then, we can just forget it, as the coalition will then fall back to the fragmentation of the 2004 general elections," an Erdon group memberr concluded, referring to the heavy defeat the opposition suffered in 2004.
 |
The Blogs 
The rakyat will flex their power in the next election.