Unity government set to dominate debate in PAS muktamar
The unity government talks (often referred to as the muqabalah by PAS members) between the propounder, incumbent deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Umno leaders,with the endorsement of party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, was allegedly done in secrecy.
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid, The Malaysian Insider
The question of an unity government, which PAS has dropped, is set to dominate the debate at its 55th muktamar and could become a crucial factor in the results of the party’s elections and its future.
The proposal has appeared to have split the Islamist party, to the consternation of the leadership, and has been on the tongues of virtually all members with many of them eagerly waiting for the right avenue to seek clarification or give their opinion.
“I think many would want to clear the ambiguity clouding the issue,” a PAS official told The Malaysian Insider, saying there is confusion whether to cooperate with rivals Umno to safeguard Islam and Malays or respect the pledge of loyalty to Pakatan Rakyat.
“Even though it would not be in any of the debate motion approved by the motion committee, the delegates would definitely want to discuss about this,” he added.
The unity government talks (often referred to as the muqabalah by PAS members) between the propounder, incumbent deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Umno leaders,with the endorsement of party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, was allegedly done in secrecy.
The move defied party traditions which believes in getting consent of all the members from its top body, the Dewan Harian or supreme council which consists of top party officials — spiritual leader, president, officer bearers and central committee members.
Even the party’s spiritual leader Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz was left in the dark on the matter and this has prompted waves of anger from the grassroots against Nasharuddin and Hadi
Both faced further humiliation when Nik Aziz openly rejected any form of dialogue let alone cooperation with Umno and this has, apart from Hadi who retain his presidential post uncontested, dented Nasharuddin’s image and popularity among party grassroots.
Nasharuddin will be defending his post against vice president Datuk Husam Musa, the head of the pro-Pakatan faction known as the ‘Erdogan’ group, who has intensified his attacks on the former for his ‘flirts’ with Umno in the run up to the party polls.
Observers now feel that Husam, who is a popular figure among Pakatan supporters especially among the secularist DAP and the moderates of PKR, has a great chance of taking the deputy presidency.
“I’m telling you, you don’t play around with PAS grassroots when it comes to Umno. Their hatred towards them is unparalleled so to hear their own party leaders actually suggesting cooperating with Umno is just unacceptable.
“You will definitely hear the issue being raised even if it is not in any of the motions proposed for debate by party members,” said a party insider.
PAS information chief and head of the motion committee Datuk Mahfuz Omar when contacted said his committee have yet to finalise the motion processing saying that the delegates will only be informed of the debate topics once the mukatamar begins tomorrow.
When asked if the muqabalah issue will be among the motion to be debated, Mahfuz refused to answer saying only that the delegates will find out about the motions tomorrow.
