In Selangor MB crisis, PAS faces a tussle for identity

By admin-s On Jul 31, 2014

(MMO) – The divergence within PAS over the Selangor mentri besar’s post exposes a deeper dilemma that goes to the core of its identity — the party must weigh a return to its core ambition for an Islamic state at the risk of permanently breaking its links to Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

The issue is simply a catalyst for conservatives to steer the party back to its fundamental roots, one source close to PAS said.

The conservatives see PAS as losing its way and voice within the multicultural PR pact, forcing the party into compromises on issues such hudud, the Islamic penal code, and “Allah”, the Arabic word for god that Muslims here consider exclusive to Islam.

For them, whether Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim remains in his job or otherwise and the consequences of an exit from PR, both for the party and the coalition is largely irrelevant, the source added.

“They want PAS to focus on an Islamic state and not compromise,” the source said.

“They know they won’t win. But the struggle is more important than winning now. Real victory is in the afterlife,” the source added.

The gap between PAS and PR, already widening since the party was rebuffed over its ambitions for hudud in Kelantan, has opened into chasm after top PAS leaders said Khalid should stay, departing from a deal to replace him said to have been reached earlier.

Just days after senior leaders from PKR, PAS, and DAP agreed to consider the nomination of PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the job, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and acting ulama wing chief Datuk Ahmad Yakob unabashedly threw their support behind Khalid.

According to the source, the Islamist party’s top leadership has discussed various scenarios including leaving PR in Selangor but not elsewhere, becoming more assertive, breaking ties with PR allies PKR and the secularist DAP to work with Umno, or striking out on its own.

At the end of the discussion, PAS was divided into the so-called progressives who want the party to stay in PR, and the conservative clerics together with the Kelantan, Terengganu and Selangor state committees that want the party to leave the coalition.

The discussions also concluded that those desiring a break away from PR will decide later if they want to work with Barisan Nasional (BN) lynchpin Umno, a Malay nationalist party.

“Umno is secondary. The priority is to not compromise (on the goal) to create an Islamic state,” the source said.