Pas Congress 4

BY MARTIN CARVALHO, RAHIMY RAHIM AND YEE XIANG YUN

KOTA TINGGI: The start of the PAS Youth annual gathering was marred by a "walkout" by a group of delegates, believed to be supporters of PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and the Syura Ulamak Council.

The incident happened before Asar prayers at 4.30pm, just before PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu delivered his opening speech.

The group, numbering less 50, are believed to be from Selangor, Terengganu and Kelantan.

Several were spotted donning black vests with words expressing support for Hadi and the council.

Party vice-president Salahuddin Ayub said the party leadership would ask the youth movement to submit a report on the alleged incident.

Mat Sabu later downplayed the incident, saying that some delegates left the hall to perform evening prayers.

"It is normal for delegates coming in and out.

"Coincidentally, it was time Asar prayers when I was about to start my speech," he said.

Asked on the vest supporting Hadi and the council worn by the delegates who left the hall, he said the party did impose a dress code for gathering.

"They can wear whatever they want.

"Some even wear vests supporting Pakatan with others wearing those supporting Gaza," he said.

He added that he did not view the alleged incident as a protest.

The recent Selangor Mentri Besar crisis had allegedly created a rift between those loyal to Hadi and those believed to be aligned with PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

- source Star online

Pas Congress 3

by Shahrum Sayuthi and Rizalman Hammim

KOTA TINGGI: Pas deputy president Mohamad Sabu has called on Pas to maintain its friendship with PKR and DAP despite the current strained relationship between the Pakatan allies.

Mohamad, who was opening the Pas Youth annual general meeting here pointed out that Pas has always been weakened when it loses its “friends” and suffered badly in general elections after that.

He reminded the Pas Youth delegates of the poor showing by the party in the 2004 general election following DAP’s decision to leave Barisan Alternative after the relatively good showing of the then opposition coalition in the 1999 general election.

“Every time we lose a friend, we will lose votes, that’s the reality. Therefore we must keep our friends in order to do well,” he said.

Mohamad also stressed that Pas members must always regard Umno as their main enemy and that friendship with it is impossible to achieve.

“Do not give your hand (in friendship) to Umno. We will slap away hands which try to do that,” he said.

Mohamad also called on party members not to consider breaking away from the party due to disagreement and differences of opinion following the Selangor leadership crisis.

He drew parallel of what is happening in Malaysia to that which happened in Indonesia where the split of Islamic movements. there had caused them the lost opportunity in gaining power in the republic’s recent general election.

Mohamad also reiterated that Pas will always be led by the ulama of the party and that those who disagreed with the Syura Council ’s stand in the handling of the Selangor crisis were merely offering a check and balance to their leadership.

The Syura Council, which is the highest decision making body in the party had recently thrown its support behind Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim but Pas central committee, dominated by the faction led by Mohammed had instead sided with the decision by PKR and DAP to remove him.

Discussion over the split of opinion between Pas leaders over the issue was expected to dominate the party’s muktamar (annual general meeting) which will start on Thursday.

- source NST online

Pas Congress 2

Pas Youth Defends Stand On Selangor Leadership Crisis

by Shahrum Sayuthi

KOTA TINGGI: The PAS Youth leadership had vowed to defend the party’s stand in the Selangor leadership crisis.

The party’s wing chief Suhaizan Kaiat said members of the movement would not allow anyone from questioning the party’s integrity.

He however, insisted that reconciliation efforts will be continuous to repair the damage caused by the crisis among the Pakatan coalition.

“In whatever crisis that we are facing, Pas Youth needs to show political maturity and acumen to control the situation and prevent it from getting worse.

“This, however, does not mean that we are preventing people from voicing their opinions.

“We are still free to voice our views as young men who are critical and full of ideas but this must done properly in order to manage the situation,” said Suhaizan in his keynote address at the Pas Youth annual general meeting here today.

Pas had recently been criticised by PKR and DAP for submitting three nominations for the Selangor menteri besar post instead of just PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail as demanded by its allies.

He said the negative impact of the crisis should not be taken lightly as a recent survey by University of Malaya Centre for Democracy and Election (UMCEDEL) showed that support for the Pakatan coalition have fallen to 35 per cent compared to the same survey done before the last general election that put the support at 50 per cent.

“Therefore, Pas Youth is urging the Pakatan Rakyat leadership to take notice of this matter and to take immediate steps to strengthen the relationship between the parties in Pakatan Rakyat. This survey should be a wake-up call for us to improve our organisation and not wait until we have actually been rejected by the people,” said Suhaizan.

Suhaizan also pointed out Pas’ weaknesses which include its inability to manage the negative impact of the Selangor leadership crisis within the party.

“It seems that the party does not have an action plan to manage the situation and the differences of opinions within Pas were not handled properly until it become a full blown crisis.

“For instance, Pas Youth is saddened when the Syura Council was belittled and questioned by certain party members as well as outsiders over the issue,” he said.

However, Suhaizan said it was still not too late and he is confident the party can still make changes to strengthen the party’s management.

“The Syura Council needs to be strengthen so that it can continue to guide the party so that it does not stray from Syarak.”

In his speech, Suhaizan also voiced his fear of the declining support for the party in Kelantan.

“Our support in Kelantan have dipped below 50 per cent and our win in the state was helped by outstation voters who returned to vote. This is a signal that the people of Kelantan are dissatisfied with the performance of the Kelantan government,” said Suhaizan.

He said it is worth reminding that the people of Kelantan is known for their critical and dynamic political thinking.

“History have shown that the people of Kelantan would not hesitate to reject Pas if they are not satisfied with the performance of the state government,” said Suhaizan.

He said a proper planning is needed in Kelantan.

“Internal crisis needs to be handled, improvement in the Kelantan government must be implemented, all the promises must be fulfilled and the leaders must know the people’s inspiration,” said Suhaizan.
Additional reporting by Rizalman Hammim. 

- source NST online

Pas Congress

Internal Disputes Were Poorly Handled

by Martin Carvalho, Rahimy Rahim and Yee Xiang Yun

KOTA TINGGI: Poor management of internal disputes by the party's leadership has caused a small wound to fester, said PAS youth chief Suhaizan Kayat.

"The public is shaking its head when it sees how weakly we have managed the crisis," he said when delivering his opening speech at the 55th annual PAS Youth general assembly on Tuesday.

He blamed the party's central committee lack of plans to manage internal party conflicts as the reason for PAS's worsening problems.

"Differing views within PAS are not well managed resulting in serious crisis.

"PAS youth is saddened that the Suyra Council was belittled and questioned by members and outsiders," he added.

- source Star online

Happy Malaysia Day!

Today is the nation's 51st Malaysia Day celebration. It is a public holiday. Today is also the start of the Pas' 60th AGM. I wrote about it in

http://ardentindulgence.blogspot.com/2014/09/solidarity-muktamar-and-vep.html

All eyes will be on this congress. Let's watch what happens.

Meanwhile, NST's political editor Shahrum Sayuthi writes on the matter

In the NST online edition today

JOHOR BARU: The Pas’ 60th muktamar (annual general assembly), set to be held in Parit Salleh Ros in Parit Raja, Batu Pahat from Thursday till Saturday had an earlier than scheduled curtain raiser when its youth wing decided to start its meeting today.

Pas Youth was initially to have just a day meeting on Wednesday, but the plan was changed in the final hours.

“We have a lot to discuss at our meeting,” said a source within the party’s wing without elaborating when asked about the need to have more time for their meeting.

It was nonetheless understood that Pas Youth leaders had decided that they needed additional time to conduct their meeting due to the latest development in the Selangor leadership crisis which had seriously damaged relations not only between Pas and its Pakatan allies but also among the factions who made up the party’s own leadership.

The party’s youth wing leadership was said to be equally divided between the religious and so called “progressive” factions who opposed each other over the issue of whether Pas should stand united with its Pakatan allies at all costs or give priority to defending its own Islamic ideals.

The Pas Youth meeting was to be held at Dewan Choon Moi, Kota Tinggi starting at 12.30pm today.

The party’s religious leadership body, known as Dewan Ulama and the party’s women wing, better known as Dewan Muslimat will start their meeting as scheduled on Wednesday at 9am.

The Dewan Ulama meeting will be at the IOI Resort in Kulaijaya, while the Dewan Muslimat’s to be at Pulai Spring Resort, here.

It was expected that both the Dewan Ulama and the women wing will reiterate their support for party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang who recently broke rank with his PKR and DAP counterparts by nominating three candidates for the MB post as decreed by the Selangor Sultan, instead of just PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Hadi was heavily criticised for his decision not only by PKR and DAP leaders but also the faction within Pas known to be supportive of PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Pas muktamar is held in Johor for the first time this year with the initial aim of creating a better presence for the party in this state which has always been known as an Umno’s stronghold.

Pas had in the last two general elections made some inroad in Johor, winning the State seats of Maharani and Sungai along in 2008, and adding two more, Parit Yaani and Puteri Wangsa last year.

Observers however had predicted that the muktamar will instead be dominated by heated discussions on the party’s problems stemming from the Selangor leadership crisis which had split Pas into factions which on one side is supportive of the party’s own ideals and the other who insisted on the importance of relations with PKR and DAP above all else.

The organising of the muktamar has been problematic from the start when the organizer had to abandoned its original plan of holding it at Taman Sutera Utama in Skudai, here after a disagreement with the landowner forced the party to switch the venue to the one in Batu Pahat.

It is also interesting to note that the muktamar is being held during the campaigning period for the Pengkalan Kubor by-election, where PAS candidate Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim is facing a three-cornered fight in the by-election against Barisan Nasional's Mat Razi Mat Ail and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary.

The voting for the by-election is scheduled for September 25.

Clouds Over Pas Muktamar

In The Star online today

by Joceline Tan

PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang is bracing himself for a fiery muktamar next week that will see his supporters rising to defend him against those critical of his stand on the Selangor crisis. 

THIS has been a difficult year for Datuk Seri Hadi Awang both on a personal and professional level.

The PAS president suffered a heart attack when he was in Istanbul and had to spend more than a month in hospital. He was still recuperating when his old friend and party comrade Datuk Abu Bakar Chik died in a car crash in Terengganu.

Hadi is still supposed to be taking it easy but things have been anything but easy for him over the last one month or so. He has had his hands full, thanks, or rather no thanks, to the Selangor Mentri Besar crisis. It has really tested his leadership.

The charismatic ulama-politician with two wives and 13 children has often been seen as a rather indecisive leader but there is something unusual about him these days.

It could be a result of his close brush with death but he has surprised many people by the way he asserted his will over his party in refusing to go along with the other two Pakatan Rakyat parties to propose Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for Mentri Besar.

Phahrolrazi: Head of an NGO that is seen as PAS breakaway group.

The PAS central leadership had agreed earlier on to nominate the PKR president and her deputy Azmin Ali for the top Selangor post. But Hadi decided to override the central committee decision – to exercise his presidential prerogative, as he put it – and sent in a list comprising only PAS names to the Palace.

There has been a hue and cry over his action and a segment in his own party is said to be deeply unhappy about it. They said that first, he made a U-turn, then a roundabout and finally he is on a merry-go-round.

Hadi, 67, is said to be facing a rebellion of sorts within his own party, hence the storm clouds gathering over the PAS muktamar in Johor this week.

These are unsettling times for PAS and Pakatan and many are expecting an emotion-charged muktamar, heated debates and even some unruly behaviour at the annual meeting.

“I don’t think it will be stormy as you call it, but people will speak their minds, there will be criticism from the floor. It is quite normal for us,” said secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali.

Those critical of Hadi reportedly make up about 35% of the party. This group comprises those who 
are passionate about PAS staying put in Pakatan as well as those who admire and support Datuk Seri 
Anwar Ibrahim. They are angry that Hadi does not seem to understand that compromises are 
necessary in coalition politics.

Zaharudin: The brains behind the young Turks in the ulama group.

However, Hadi still commands the support of more than 60% of the party. More important, he has the backing of the powerful Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and the influential spiritual healer Datuk Dr Haron Din.

His boyhood friend and arch loyalist Mustafa has also stood solidly by him, defending his stand in the party’s central committee which is dominated by the Erdogan group.

Hadi also has the support of an up-and-coming vanguard of young, dynamic and well-educated religious scholars whose opinions are starting to make an impact in the party.

They include his own son-in-law Zaharudin Muhammad, Syura Council secretary Datuk Nik Mohd Zawawi Nik Salleh, research director Dr Zuhdi Mohd Marzuki and Nik Aziz’s son and Pasir Mas MP Nik Abduh.

They are the young Turks in the ulama circle of PAS and they are fiercely protective of Hadi.

This network of young Turks has been moving around the country to meet members and consolidate support for Hadi ahead of the muktamar. They want to contain the situation and ensure that any criticism that erupts at the muktamar will not get out of hand.

They are worried because there has been talk that opponents of Hadi may “do an Asri” on him, a reference to former president Datuk Mohd Asri Muda who was ousted in 1982 during a dramatic muktamar.

They are also worried that some delegates may heckle Hadi when he makes his policy speech on Thursday, the way Asri was jeered before his exit.

Asri had lost support because he was against PAS taking the Islamist road but he was overwhelmed by the rising might of the ulama. After delivering his presidential speech at that fateful muktamar, Asri told the delegates he was leaving matters in their hands and left the venue, never to return again.

The new leadership under Datuk Yusof Rawa ushered in a new era of “leadership by the ulama”.

The irony is that this time around, the rebels are the moderates who find Hadi too conservative and want the party to go mainstream. The party has come full circle.

There is a lot riding on the muktamar, the outcome of which could determine whether or not PAS continues in Pakatan.

Dr Fadzli: Speak openly at muktamar but within the Islamic norms.

Among the topics that will heat up the gathering will be the Selangor Mentri Besar issue and PAS’ place in Pakatan. The Kajang Move that triggered off Pakatan’s downward plunge will be mauled.

The two PAS assemblymen who broke ranks to support PKR will also be in the line of fire. PAS members are very unhappy 
with their action and even the mild-mannered Kelantan deputy 
Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah had told people he would have sacked them if he had the authority.

Those unhappy with Hadi will criticise him for not respecting party procedure on the Mentri Besar issue while those for him will slam PKR for insisting on only Dr Wan Azizah for Mentri Besar.

There will be calls for PAS to quit Pakatan and there will also be calls for PAS to stick with the coalition.

Will there be calls for Hadi to go? No one would dare do so.

Hadi is not perfect but his strength is his religious integrity. Any group that wants to take him on will also be taking on the ideological core that he stands for.

Delegates will also question the involvement of PAS leaders in the newly-formed Pasma or Parti Ummah Sejaterah Malaysia.

The Pasma president is Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi, an assemblyman and former PAS deputy commissioner of Kedah and some claimed that it is funded by a well-known PAS politician from Kelantan.

Phahrolrazi was quite candid about the fact that more than half of the PAS central committee members are pro-Pasma and a few of them have spoken on the Pasma platform. But he said he is the only PAS big name in the organisation.

“Pasma is not against PAS. Our objective is to strengthen Pakatan,” he said.

Phahrolrazi’s group is seen as the alternative to PAS in Pakatan. It will be the repository for those PAS members who want to stay on with Pakatan.

Many of them were idealistic professionals who joined PAS after Anwar’s sacking from the government. They are now older and their idealism has morphed into a thirst for more power which they think is possible only via Anwar.

The first indication of the mood at the muktamar will come when the Youth wing convenes. The Dewan Pemuda, as the wing is known, is dominated by the pro-ulama group who are staunchly behind Hadi.

The Youth wing had also asked Youth divisions all over the country to organise sembahyang hajat sessions last week to ask the Almighty “to cleanse the party of destructive elements” and to “strengthen Pakatan states”.

“The muktamar is the right place to speak. If they want to say anything about the president, this is the time and venue but it must be in line with the ethics of Islam,” said Kelantan executive councillor Dr Fadzli Hassan.

Shortly after tasting success in the 2008 general election, PAS had trumpeted the slogan, “PAS untuk semua (PAS for all)”.

By last year, the theme at the muktamar was a rather toned down “Rahmat untuk semua (blessings for all)”.

The theme this year is more inward-looking – “Terus beristiqamah”. It means to be steadfast, to continue in the right direction.

The original venue for the muktamar was an upmarket shopping mall in Johor Baru. It was to signal the party’s aspirations to capture Johor in the next general election. The coalition made huge advances last year, winning 18 out of 56 state seats.

The owner of the mall reportedly changed his mind and PAS shifted the venue to Parit Raja, a small town not far from Batu Pahat.

So much has changed in the last few months, it was not surprising that PAS is reaching back into its rural comfort zone. PAS, said one journalist, is going back to basics.

The new site, which belongs to a PAS supporter, has been cleared and white tents erected for the big day. On Thursday night, supporters gathered under the partially erected tents to pray for a peaceful and successful muktamar.

“It is a challenging time for everyone. But I am very confident Hadi can weather the storm. He will reply and explain everything at the end of the day,” said Mustafa.

It is make or break time for PAS.