Fate of PAS in Pakatan coalition at stake

ARCHIVES 2013

By admin-s On Nov 17, 2013

(The Ant Daily) – If the conservatives triumph, then it is highly likely that they will want to forge a unity government with BN.

The outcome of the PAS election on Nov 22 will decide not only the fate of the conservatives or progressives but also whether the party itself will leave Pakatan Rakyat and work with Barisan Nasional under a unity government.

If the conservatives triumph, then it is highly likely that they will want to forge a unity government with BN.

But if the progressives or Erdogans prevail, the party will remain in Pakatan and together with its two partners – PKR and DAP – keep alive the coalition’s dream of capturing Putrajaya in the next general election.

The election may be a PAS affair, but party insiders said the outcome will create a new political landscape in Malay politics that will affect Umno and the Malays.

Observers said this is why Umno is closely watching the PAS election, and Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia is seen to be rooting for the conservative faction in PAS.

While the progressives are riding on a wave of optimism, the conservatives of late are equally confident that they can be victors in the contest for the deputy presidency, vice-presidency and the central committee posts.

Said a party insider: “The fundamentalists are very confident they can capture most of the top posts. They believe they can unseat Mohamad Sabu for the number two spot.”

Mohamad Sabu, better known as Mat Sabu, is defending his post against Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.

Party insiders said that was the reason PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man opted out of the deputy president’s race to contest for one of the three vice-president seats.

“Earlier, Tuan Ibrahim wanted to go for the number two post, but the fundamentalists advised him to go for the vice-presidency since Amar stands a better chance against Mat Sabu,” said an insider.

“For vice-president, Tuan Ibrahim is seen as winnable, acceptable candidate. As information chief, he has been meeting party grassroots members all over the country for the past several years,” said the insider.

Among the three incumbent vice-presidents, all from the liberal faction, an insider said Sallehuddin Ayub is the most vulnerable.

“The other two – Datuk Husam Musa and Datuk Mahfuz Omar – may retain their posts,” he said.

Besides Tuan Ibrahim, the other candidate is ulama council member Abu Bakar Chik.

“Thus, the fundamentalists may come in strongly as Amar is considered a better candidate than Mat Sabu, with Tuan Ibrahim likely to get a vice-president seat,” said the insider.

If Amar romps home to victory, then the top two posts will be controlled by the fundamentalists.