PAS polls turning ugly, Anwar’s name dragged in to run down ‘progressives’
Sources said the PAS electoral battle was turning out to be ugly with even a dog image being ascribed to one of the contestants for the Youth chief post.
Ahmad Fadzly Esa, The Ant Daily
The PAS elections are shaping up into one of the hottest and ugliest in the party’s history, and it seems Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been dragged into it.
PAS leaders identified as belonging to the “progressive” faction are miffed by allegations that they are a threat to the Islamic party because of their alleged allegiance to PKR supremo Anwar.
They said such allegations were nothing more than the work of Umno and its cohorts who were using the 59th PAS muktamar (assembly) on Nov 22 to split the Islamic party.
PAS central committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad rubbished talk that the PAS election would be a battle between the conservatives and the Anwaristas, the professionals said to have close ties with Anwar.
It was just a ploy to create a rift between the candidates and their supporters, said Dzulkefly, who is contesting for a seat in the central committee.
“I would like to clearly state that PAS has never been divided into these so-called clerics and Anwarina factions. The fact that we sometimes disagree or have differences in opinions will only make us more relevant and conducive as a political party,” he said.
He said if anything, this clearly indicated that PAS had never been a mere “follower” in the current political scenario.
“At the same time, I can see Umno-BN trying to take advantage of the situation and create a division within the party, but I am convinced that PAS members are wise and mature enough to not fall into this trap,” he told theantdaily.
Another PAS central committee member, Khalid Samad, also dismissed allegations that the party is embroiled in a tussle between the conservative Islamic clerics and the urbane professionals.
