Are PAS moderates looking for a way out?

By admin-s Last updated Feb 17, 2015

Now we are seeing PAS Election Director Hatta Ramli working hand in hand with Nurul Nuha Anwar in her “March to Freedom” campaign, and this raises many questions about what exactly that means.

Scott Ng, FMT

The battle between the ulama and Erdogan factions in PAS has long been an object of curiosity to observers, and probably one of stress to the more cosmopolitan partners in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. After all, the factions seem to appeal to distinct groups of people, and Pakatan, needing all the appeal it can get for the next general election, may be worrying what voters might think of a PAS split in two.

Dealing with the fallout, which include the possibility of embarrassing media statements (Nik Abduh, I’m looking at you) and sudden policy changes, must be quite a burden for PKR and DAP. With the ulama faction now comfortably in the driver’s seat, it seems like the Erdogans are beginning to feel uncomfortable with the proclamations and policies being set in place. And they may be beginning to look for a way out.

The first inkling of this came from the creation of PasMa, a dissident group that wanted PAS to toe the Pakatan line during the Selangor Menteri Besar crisis and has been reviled in the media by certain elements of PAS’ conservative circle. Then came the silencing of PAS Deputy President Mat Sabu, whose moderate views are widely accepted by the public and PKR and DAP, but, according to reports, not by his boss Abdul Hadi Awang.

Now we are seeing PAS Election Director Hatta Ramli working hand in hand with Nurul Nuha Anwar in her “March to Freedom” campaign, and this raises many questions about what exactly that means.

If Nurul Nuha is Anwar’s control mechanism on Nurul Izzah, then what role does Hatta really play? We know that in all likelihood Nurul Nuha’s campaign will probably end in a run for her father’s seat in Permatang Pauh, but Hatta siding with Anwar’s scions – especially after Hadi blatantly refused support for Anwar during the delivery of the Sodomy II verdict – smells a lot less like a collaboration than a confrontation with Hadi. It’s becoming clear that and the moderates are deciding to throw their lot with PKR and the Anwar family.