KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — PAS vice-president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man rejected today a nomination for him to contest his party’s presidency at its election in June, saying he was concerned his agreement would send a “bad signal” to those outside the party.
Instead, he urged party members to continue supporting Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as president for the sake of adhering to the Islamist party’s customary leadership by the ulama, or religious scholars.
“My nomination to contest Hadi as president is a shock that does not help the party’s integrity. In PAS’ history, the post of president has never been contested, especially in the era of ‘ulama leadership’,” Tuan Ibrahim said in a statement.
“I worry we are giving a bad signal to the public outside. Although it was to fulfil the requirement under democracy, the position of syura is more noble than democracy,” he added, without elaborating.
Literally meaning “consultation”, “syura” refers to the Islamic political concept of administration by consultation of a council of leaders, which PAS also practises through its advisory Syura Council.
“If syura is the best way, then it is appropriate that the leadership of the party is solved through syura,” the Pahang PAS commissioner added.
The Kota Baru PAS division yesterday nominated Tuan Ibrahim for the post, with division chief Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah saying he was confident that Hadi would not seek re-election at the PAS muktamar, or annual conference, in June.
“I say thank you for the trust given. But I reject the nomination and urge all other divisions to continue supporting Hadi’s leadership as party president,” said Tuan Ibrahim.
A new rift was formed in PAS after some members accused top leaders of trying to overthrow Abdul Hadi, with deputy president Mohamad Sabu and elections director Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli alleged to be conspirators.
Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa) — a critical pressure group within the Islamist party — has also been targeted, after its powerful Syura Council banned members from joining it.
PAS leaders including Research Centre chief operation officer Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki and Perak commissioner Razman Zakaria have since openly called for dissenting members to leave and form a new party.
In response, PAS Youth said that such calls were “shameful” and akin to admitting that the party’s preaching and indoctrination bureaus have failed in their recruitment drives.
