In Mat Sabu win, proof PAS doesn’t run on faith alone
All eyes will now be on the results for the vice-presidents’ fight, which will be announced this morning, where the three incumbent vice-presidents seen as progressives, were faced with two veteran challengers from the ulama group.
Zurairi AR, The Malay Mail
While clerics have advanced into PAS’s top leadership tier, Mohamad Sabu’s success in keeping his deputy president seat in heated polls yesterday proved the Islamic party is acutely aware it cannot steer straight in Malaysia’s current political reality propped up by one faction over the other.
The popular rally speaker, nicknamed Mat Sabu, faced a tough challenger in Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, but managed to edge out the Kelantan deputy mentri besar by a 98-vote majority, which to Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Abu Bakar showed equal support within PAS for both the ulama, the Islamic clerics who make up the party’s soul, and the so-called progressives faction, consisting largely of professionals and seen as its brains.
“Whether Mat Sabu or Nik Amar won, especially if it was a slim win, it shows that PAS depends on the strength and the support of both groups,” the Universiti Malaya political analyst told The Malay Mail Online.
“This also shows that PAS has remained the same since before, where there is a fair alliance of the ulama and the professionals,” added the history lecturer of two decades.
At PAS’s 59th annual muktamar (conference) held here since Friday, party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had insisted that the synergy between the two groups has been the “secret” to PAS’ success.
Delegates also spoke proudly of the evolution of PAS’s image, perceived previously as a party of yokels and religious teachers, to its present vibrant mix of clerics, political activists, and technocrats.
Abdul Hadi’s remarks also comes as the party’s ulama wing approved a motion on Thursday, calling for the posts of president, deputy president, and one of the three vice-presidents to be reserved for the clergy class.
According the wing’s chief Datuk Harun Taib, the ulama group understands the Islamist party’s struggle best as they are more knowledgeable in the Quranic teachings that form PAS’s core values.
