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Although the venerated Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan menteri besar, had soothed the supporters' sentiments by toning down his criticism of Abdul Hadi and company, the damage to PAS' public image is done. Written by R B Bhattacharjee, The Edge
The razor-thin 65-vote win for PAS in the Manek Urai state by-election on Tuesday must have come as a shock for the Islamic party, in view of its comfortable 1,352-vote majority in 2008. It also offers a dire warning to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition, in which PAS has a pivotal role, as it reveals the weakness of the bonds that hold the political alliance together.
The obvious rift within the ranks of PAS, between its spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat and the liberal-leaning faction on the one hand, and the ulama-centric coterie led by party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, on the other, has clearly worked to diminish voter confidence in the party's unity of purpose. Reports from the ground indicate that a majority of the party's supporters are dismayed by Abdul Hadi and his deputy Nasharuddin Mat Isa's inclination towards unity talks with Umno, since both these Malay-based parties had been spitting venom at each other until the ground-shifting results of the 12th general election last year.
Although the venerated Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan menteri besar, had soothed the supporters' sentiments by toning down his criticism of Abdul Hadi and company, the damage to PAS' public image is done. What, the people would ask, is the difference between PAS and the party it has so bitterly criticised until now? What, pray tell, has given rise to this new-found warmth between Umno and Pas? It is not surprising that Umno leaders have been milking the situation for what it's worth, and adding ballast to their resurgent campaign.
For the broader PR coalition, the ideological differences between PAS and DAP are matters of significant concern to the voters who may like to have a counterweight to the Barisan Nasional formula. While the PR fraternity has shown a surprising cohesiveness from the run up to the March 8, 2008 election onwards, there is no escaping the fact that the two parties are very much polarised on fundamental questions, especially concerning religion.
Neither does it help that Malaysian Democratic Party president Wee Choo Keong and Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president Mohamed Azmin Ali have been sniping at their own political allies of late.
Given their current muddle, the PR leadership should have no illusions that they measure up to the people's criteria for a viable alternative government. The voters will be most unlikely to hand any coalition the mandate to rule until they are quite confident that the whole band of Yang Berhormats do not end up in an ignominious free-for-all over power and glory among themselves.
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