PAS Needs More Warriors If It Wants To Replace Umno

(Bernama) — PAS needs more “warriors” than religious leaders if it wants to unseat Umno in the 13th general election.

Political analyst Prof Dr A. Aziz Bari said that PAS led by its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang needed to undertake more transformation in the party by bringing forth more “warriors”.

“The party should not be looking for ‘tok imam’ but ‘warriors’ and ‘fighters’. It should not be delusional but offer alternatives to the people. If PAS still wants to discuss on how many ulama to be placed at the top party leadership, what’s the use?

“If it continues to be like this, it is in no position to replace Umno,” he said at a forum on “Charting PAS’ Future” organised by the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) at the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall, here Wednesday.

The other speakers at the forum were PAS Member of Parliament for Shah Alam Khalid Samad, and party Central Committee members Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar.

Aziz said although PAS claimed to have more than one million members, it should stop thinking that its top leaders must come from the ulama group, that it should be more open to accept change although there were leaders among them who were uncomfortable with change.

“Some want things to remain the same while others are edgy about new developments, and there are also those who feel uneasy when the party opens its doors to non-Malays,” he said.

Khalid, however, said that it was not the main issue from the party constitution aspect, as the ulama leadership referred to the Syura Council and there was nothing in the constitution which said that the leadership must come from the ulama.

“Such thinking may be influenced by the media and those with vested interest in the party who say that the PAS president and deputy president must be from the ulama group.”

Khalid’s views were supported by Kamaruddin who said that there were no leaders in the party who viewed the top leadership as being divided into two groups – the pro-ulama and the pro-professionals, or better known as the Erdogan group.

PAS, which was established in 1951, will be holding its election next month to choose the top leaders for the 2011-2013 term.

So far, party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has retained his post unopposed.