The Future of Malay Political Power Rest with the PAS
Written by Kazi Mahmood, World Futures
Can the Party Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) evolve into a National party with an Islamic agenda or should it get stuck in the past only to represent a rather shrinking and divided Muslim arena?
Most observers believe the PAS is not bound to evolve but the party could emerge as a recognized national force in Malaysia if it was to adapt to the political changes in the country.
To become a true national force, the PAS has to reinforce its image and adopt a host of resolutions and policies that will transform the party altogether. Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat is seen as the man capable of jostling the party leadership and sends the party rocketing on the Malaysian national scene as the party of the future in a coalition of the willing that will include the Party Keadilaan Rakyat (PKR) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) amongst others.
Currently the PAS is of appeal to some 20% of the Malaysian population, being the third largest opposition party in the country despite controlling 2 states, Kelantan and Kedah. It is the most junior party in the opposition coalition in Parliament, lagging behind the DAP and the PKR in number of Parliamentary seats. In order to secure a better future, the PAS has to do better than 2008.
The party is however bound to fail as a major representative of the Malaysian population of all races and religious beliefs if the party rejects the overtures of Nik Aziz, the respected and powerful Murshidul Am of the party. His role in the PAS Kelantan and at national level has become his track record, projecting a party that is not corrupt, does not practice extremism in the states that it controls (though it is bound to impose some Islamic standards) and is also much appreciated and respected by non-Muslims and Muslims that falls under its rule.
While Nik Aziz rejects the idea of working with the Barisan National (BN) and the United Malays National Organization (Umno), declaring that a Government of National Unity (GNU) is out of the question, the rise of the PKR as the most powerful opposition force in the country has caused some PAS leaders to be cautious. This has also caused them to look into the ‘all Malay-Muslim’ option – which was one of the theories we exposed last year. This would mean there are members of the party who would rather work with the Umno than the PKR instead and this is not a secret but it can only happen if the PAS is without Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat.
