KUALA SELANGOR, June 7 — Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang retained the PAS presidency by a landslide in the party’s first open contest for the post in over half a decade this week.

Joining him was a fresh line-up of leaders comprising those endorsed by the party’s Ulama or clergy wing, who similarly trounced their so-called progressive contenders.

The outcome entrenched the decades-long divide between the religious faction in the party and the “professionals”, and brought to a head the already strained relations with DAP.

Here are three things we learned about PAS party elections this year:

1. The Ulama wing’s “cai” killed the competition

There was never any doubt that Abdul Hadi would defeat his challenger, former vice-president Ahmad Awang.

But there was still a possibility that the party would retain its precious mix of ulama and professionals in its three vice-presidents and 18-man central working committee, albeit with more coming from the clergy class.

That was before the Ulama wing released its “cai”, or “menu”, of candidates whom it endorsed as the preferred leaders to direct the party’s future, just a day before the elections, which all but buried their rivals’ chances.

The Ulama wing claimed that the list was not an attempt to influence voting delegates or meant as a slight against those not on the list.

But in a party where the ulama are put on a pedestal as those closer to God, what delegate would dare defy their suggestions for fear of rejecting God’s blessings?

Failing to make the Ulama wing’s list was essentially being labelled not Islamic enough, and in Islamist PAS, that may as well be the death knell for your political prospects.

The Ulama wing had campaigned for itself, and it proved to be a masterstroke.

2. Progressives are few and far between

It is understood that after the divisive 2013 elections, the progressive faction mulled collecting data to determine its clout among the grassroots. But this never materialised and the faction went into this year’s polls perhaps overestimating its strength.

Now, the progressives can roughly gauge their influence, extrapolating from the number of delegates who still voted for them despite the “cai” given by the Ulama wing and the smear campaign in the run up to the polls.

And the figure is roughly 20 per cent.

Out of 1,161 votes, Ahmad had received 233. Mohamad Sabu took 279.

In the race for three vice-presidents, Salahuddin Ayub got 320, Datuk Mahfuz Omar 285, and Datuk Husam Musa 267.

Similarly, most of the so-called progressive MPs running for the central working committee received, at best, just north of 300 votes.

If the votes are anything to go by, the dichotomy in PAS is nowhere near what it was made out to be.

3. Bridges not burned, but smouldering

While several delegates urged the progressives to not lose heart after their crushing defeat, the truth is it will be hard for them not to.

Prior to the elections, party stalwarts such as Mohamad Sabu, Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, Salahuddin, Mohd Hanipa Maidin and Khalid Abdul Samad had their names dragged through the dirt, with accusations ranging from trying to topple the president to putting their loyalty towards DAP.

And it most probably cost them their votes, nullifying any goodwill they had serving the party for years.

“We have been on this stage for so long. Many things have happened in over 20 years. Now the new settlers want to live in this home, so we have to leave it.

“Usually, when you want someone to leave the house, give them some food, water so they can leave in peace. Don’t splash acid at them,” said outgoing deputy president Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, in a farewell speech dripping with sarcasm.

The usually outspoken Hanipa broke down on stage recalling his history in the party. Dr Hatta and Salahuddin were forced to defend themselves after keeping mum for so long against repeated accusation of colluding in a group plotting against Abdul Hadi.

Mat Sabu has since announced that he is taking a “short leave” from politics.

Their presence will sorely be missed in the campaigning for the Sarawak state elections and any by-elections between now and the 14th general election.

And if PAS delegates miss them enough, there is always the next party elections in 2017, roughly a year before the next general elections.