PAS debates role of clerics as leaders

(The Straits Times) – Malaysia’s opposition Islamist party is in the grip of a debate over the nature of its leadership ahead of party polls next month. A big controversy has broken out after a key cleric, Datuk Mohamed Daud Iraqi, said the top two posts in Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) could be held only by ulama, or Islamic scholars.

His comments added to an internal debate on whether PAS should strengthen its Malay-Islam roots by forming a loose coalition with Umno, or get closer to the multiracial Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance.

“PAS is an Islamist party, therefore it should be led by individuals from religious backgrounds,” said Mohamed Daud, who leads the powerful council of clerics or Dewan Ulama PAS.

He was quoted by the Utusan Malaysia newspaper as saying that PAS would be in chaos if it were not led by religious scholars since its principles were based on Islam.

But other leaders say having clerics as president and deputy president is not part of the party’s Constitution, and that capability is a better measure.

“The choices for leaders are not limited only to religious scholars, there are also professionals to choose from. The question is whether to choose someone based on his capability of specialising in a role, or based on the person’s educational background,” wrote PAS central leader Khalid Samad on his blog.

The debate is being watched closely because PAS, with some one million members, is the biggest opposition party. It is also part of the PR alliance, which hopes to grab federal power in the next general election, to be held by 2013, with support from non-Muslims.

There are worries in PAS that Mohamed Daud’s comments will deepen its internal split ahead of its biennial elections.

A faction in PAS wants to continue with the so-called “unity talks” with its traditional foe, Umno, with a view of forming an alliance to strengthen the voice of Malays and Muslims.

These talks were promoted by PAS president Hadi Awang and his deputy Nasharudin Mat Isa, both of whom are clerics.

But the so-called liberal faction sees the future of PAS with the three-party PR, whose other members are multiracial Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Chinese-based Democratic Action Party.

This faction, called Erdogans by the cleric faction, is led by vice-president Husam Musa with the support of PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat. They are called Erdogans after Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seen by PAS as a liberal Muslim.

PAS’ 175 divisions, which are holding their annual meetings and making nominations for the top posts, have shown up the split, especially in their pick of deputy president. Some have picked Nasharudin to remain as the No. 2, but many others want Datuk Husam to stand for the post.

Three other names have also been nominated, a clear sign that Nasharudin has lost support because he held the talks with Umno. It was in this context that the comments by Mohamed Daud had raised a storm, as many saw it as unsolicited endorsement for Nasharudin the cleric, over Husam the economist in what is shaping up as a stiff battle.

But influential cleric Ahmad Awang said the proposal by Mohamed Daud was just an “opinion”.

The debate is far from over. – MI