Selangor MB crisis threatening ‘huge’ split in PAS, analysts say

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — A crisis pitting progressive and conservative factions against each other in PAS is brewing, as the Islamist party looks set for a collision course with its Pakatan Rakyat (PR) allies by choosing to back embattled Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

PAS is expected to decide on its official stance on August 10, but its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has already declared his support for Khalid, putting his party at odds with its coalition partners and increasing the likelihood of its ejection from PR.

The PAS president showed his hand last Friday by publicly expressing support for Khalid.

“I have heard all the arguments, and I find that majority of PAS grassroots are in agreement that Khalid Ibrahim should remain as mentri besar,” Hadi was quoted as saying in Terengganu.

His reasoning struck a chord with conservatives within the party who are often uneasy with the secularist approach forged by the coalition. More progressive leaders, however, including PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, appear reluctant to part ways with the coalition.

“There clearly is a split. PAS members need to make up their mind on whether they want to be a mainstream party that could improve Malaysia’s governance, or whether they just want to go to heaven,” Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan told Malay Mail Online yesterday.

There is already support for the idea that PAS should strike out on its own.

PAS Research Centre operations director Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki said that he was conducting a scenario analysis based on a senior PAS leader’s suggestion that the party break away from PR, which he claimed was supported by at least 10 party central committee members.

“They supported the idea of leaving PR and also said that the PAS central leadership meeting on August 10 should prioritise that discussion above the Selangor MB crisis,” he said in a recent statement on his Facebook page.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said the conservatives, or the ulama faction in PAS, have never been confident about the benefits of allying with PKR and secularist DAP in the PR coalition.

“They have made noises about the declining influence of the party among the Malay-Muslim core,” Khoo told Malay Mail Online.  

What was seen as a problem within PKR has spilled over to affect PAS and even a leadership crisis within the party was a possibility now, said Merdeka Center chief Ibrahim Suffian.

“If the party is able to persuade Hadi to stand down from his position, it would mean loss of face and confidence in his leadership,” Ibrahim told Malay Mail Online.

“If Hadi is able to force his views across, it would mean going against the resolutions of the party general assembly to ‘strengthen Pakatan’. Either way, this would result in a leadership crisis in PAS,” the pollster added.

It is likely that PAS would have to leave or be expelled from PR if the party endorses Hadi’s stand and decides on August 10 to back Khalid, he said.

Without support from PAS’ 15 assemblymen in Selangor, it would be difficult for PKR to push for a no-confidence vote against the mentri besar.

Collectively, PR’s three member parties control the majority of the 56-seat House with 44 seats ― 15 each for DAP and PAS, and 14 for PKR. Umno has 12 seats.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, a progressive in the Islamist party, reportedly said last Saturday that Hadi’s support of Khalid remaining mentri besar is not PAS’ official stand, and that an official position will only be announced after the party’s top leaders meet on August 10.

PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, however, has thrown his support behind the embattled Khalid, reminding party members to obey Hadi as the “captain” of PAS.

PAS acting ulama wing chief and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob also said recently that the party’s powerful conservative faction “fully supports” Hadi’s endorsement of Khalid retaining his post as MB.

The question of whether PAS should remain in PR with PKR and DAP goes to the heart of PAS’ identity as an Islamist party.

The late PAS ulama leader Datuk Harun Taib reportedly said last November that the party’s ties with PKR and DAP should be reviewed periodically, questioning if the relationships have enabled PAS to realise its Islamic ideals.

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, a progressive in the party, downplayed the rift between the conservatives and the progressives.

“Some people think we are divided. I think that’s not the issue,” Salahuddin told Malay Mail Online when contacted on Monday.

When asked if PAS was able to accommodate differing opinions, Salahuddin highlighted that party members have “gone through good times and bad times” together for six decades.

“I think we are mature enough to find a solution”.