Can ulama-dominated PAS Youth reach out to young voters?
(TMI) – The newly elected PAS Youth leaders appear to be no match for their Umno counterparts in terms of credibility, capability, and attracting support from young voters – a crucial vote bank in the next general election, an analyst said.
The recent elections for the Islamist party’s Youth wing saw the ulama faction take over the leadership at the expense of the “professionals and progressives” and the challenge they face now is trying to appeal to the nation’s youth.
The strained ties between PAS, DAP and PKR at the national level and the fact that the PAS top leadership is dominated by individuals from the east coast, only worsens matters.
“Based on my observations of the PAS Youth and PAS Muslimat congress, they appear to be rather unprepared in competing against Umno,” said Ilham Centre’s executive director, Mohamad Hisomuddin Abu Bakar.
The research outfit also said the new leaders of PAS Youth have no experience in preparing for the 14th general election.
“Those responsible for seat allocation between the component parties of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have been sidelined.
“The PAS Youth line-up mostly comprises those who were only filling up the ceramah slots before the elections.”
Hisomuddin said PAS Youth was particularly weak in handling technical matters, such as psychological warfare and campaigning.
