KOTA BARU, May 7 — For 28 years, PAS has been practically synonymous with Kelantan, but amid internal turmoil after the death of spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat in 2015 and unhappiness about an economy that is stuck in neutral, a once-unthinkable prospect in this north-eastern state appears close to becoming reality: People are losing faith in the so-called “party of God”.
While the defections of key leaders since Nik Aziz’s death in 2015 have led to questions about whether the party will ever be the force it once was, discontent over bread and butter issues poses the biggest threat to PAS’ primacy in Kelantan.
The mood of residents at a recent Barisan Nasional (BN) rally is indicative of PAS’ flagging fortunes.
While stalls selling grilled hotdogs and Red Bull mixed with lemon added to a generally festive air in the early evening, the mood turned serious once Umno Kota Baru leader Tan Sri Mohd Fatmi Che Salleh opened proceedings with a plea to the crowd to give BN a chance to bring change and development to Kelantan when they vote on May 9.
Standing at the back of the field, 43-year-old mechanic Haron Samat nodded in agreement. He will be casting his vote for Umno instead of PAS, a party he has supported for the last two decades.
“We have not seen progress like other states in Malaysia. PAS keeps talking about upholding Islamic principles, but Islam also allows modernisation,” he said. “I don’t want future generations to live in our current state.”
Under PAS’ rule, upholding Islamic principles takes precedence over economic development. While residents of the state initially accepted that bargain, unhappiness over rising costs of living and the lack of infrastructure and efficient services has led many to reconsider their position.
Progress and piety
As he watched his grandchildren play a few steps away from his wooden house, retired teacher Nooraddin Mohamed, 67, grew agitated as he talked about the lack of development in Kelantan, expressing concern for future generations.
Initially embracing the Islamic vision and values of PAS, he thought that the party would be able to marry both progress and piety. But instead, Kelantan has lagged behind other states in Malaysia, he added.
“They keep talking about Islamic principles and rule of law. They think they’re the party of God,” said Nooraddin.
“Yes, Islamic principles are important, but we need to eat, too, and our children need good education. BN has the power to make changes.”
Decaying infrastructure and inefficient delivery of services such as waste management has led to rising anger.
Kelantan under PAS “is now recognised a developmental failure”, said Ooi Kee Beng, executive director of the Penang Institute, a think tank.
Within the Chempaka constituency, which was previously helmed by Nik Aziz and about half an hour away from the capital city of Kota Baru, bridges linking one village to the other are made of wood.
Just 10 minutes’ walk away from Nik Aziz’s house in the village of Pulau Melaka, a three-storey unfinished building lies covered in moss.
Abandoned construction projects could also be seen within semi-urban constituencies such as Tanjong Mas, located within the Kota Baru.
Potholes are a permanent feature on roads, especially in rural areas, and residents complain that street lights within the villages are practically non-existent.
The crumbling state of affairs has proven to be a burr in the saddle of the man-in-the-street in Kelantan, forcing him to evaluate what has gone wrong.
Business owner Syawal Abdullah, 35, is among them. He is undecided about who will get his vote come May 9, but he is certain it will not be PAS.
The party has not provided any concrete plans for how it will create jobs and improve livelihoods, he said.
“It is time for change. We cannot remain backward forever,” said Syawal.
Civil servant Azmi Salleh, 45, noted that there have been times when the rubbish outside his home has not been cleared for a week. “When I asked why they’re not efficient, the workers just shrugged,” he added.
Food stall vendor Azizah Abdullah, 58, said that the state government has not improved the drainage system to ease flooding, which has been a perennial problem.
“Yes, heavy rain is something we cannot control. But they can do something about the drains. If you notice, there are no drains by the roadside,” she added.
Politically, PAS has also been found wanting, observers note.
Executive director of independent research firm Hisomudin Bakar said voters are also of the view that the Islamic party “has failed to act as a check on BN”.
He added: “It did not voice people’s concerns on issues, including corruption and the rising cost of living.”
To be sure, there are still some voters, like farmer Mohd Zulkifli Husaain, who think that PAS’ “fight to uphold Islamic principles” outweighs bread and butter issues.
“Its fundamentals are based on the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad’s teachings, and we need that to be good human beings. God willing, PAS will not fall,” he said. “But if it does fall, I’m sure it will win in the afterlife.”
Internal turmoil reflects instability
PAS’ dwindling status as a political powerhouse has its roots in 2015.
When Nik Aziz died after an unsuccessful battle with prostate cancer, infighting between the hardline, or ulama, faction of the party and moderates broke into the open, leading to the defections of key leaders, who went on to form Parti Amanah Negara, which is now part of the opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.
The most recent prominent defection was that of Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz’s, the eldest son and second child of Nik Aziz. On Nomination Day last Saturday (April 28), he created shockwaves when he announced his candidacy under Amanah, while still being a PAS member.
Some Kelantan residents have expressed concerns about whether PAS, already ineffective in administering the state, could run aground if more defections occur.
A Kelantan resident who wanted to be known only as Ishak said he quit PAS as a member one week ago.
“The leadership is not as strong as when Nik Aziz was at the helm,” he said.
“If key leaders, good leaders, continue to leave the party, they have to deal with the internal squabbles. So how can they focus on being an efficient state government?”
PAS’ troubles have left its opponents licking their chops.
BN has tried to knock the party off its perch in the past six general elections without success, but has made some inroads this time around.
In the 2008 polls, Umno secured only six of the 45 state seats, but this rose to 12 in the 2013 election. Umno also won five parliamentary seats that year, up from two previously.
Datuk Mohd Alwi Che Ahmad, BN secretary in Kelantan, admitted that disunity in the ruling coalition had hampered its chances of victory over the last three decades, citing various examples, such as the dispute between former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno stalwart Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in the 1990s.
That was followed by the controversial sacking of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, which left the country and Umno divided. Dr Mahathir then turned on his chosen successor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, after the latter became prime minister.
“In Kelantan — when one party is split, the other party will win,” said Mohd Alwi, adding that PAS managed to capitalise on Umno’s internal disputes.
Now, the tables have turned on PAS, said BN chairman in Kelantan and incumbent Minister for International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
He added that BN Kelantan is now more united, with decisions made based on consensus.
With its opponent weakened, BN leaders have repeatedly said that this year’s election is the best chance the coalition has had in three decades to wrest back Kelantan.
To entice voters, BN’s manifesto for Kelantan is “more generous” this time round, said Mustapa. It includes pledges to lower land taxes and upgrade the state’s infrastructure by building more housing projects, a massive railway project called East Coast Rail Link, and a new stadium.
Some voters are already swayed. Food vendor Azizah Haji Abdullah, 58, will be switching allegiance from PAS to BN, as she feels the latter has the power and financial muscle to effect change.
“I have had enough of empty promises. Yes, sometimes BN might not deliver, but you can see it is pushing for developments in other states like Johor,” she added.
Umno, though, is not the only threat to PAS in Kelantan.
With 14 parliament and 45 state legislative assembly seats up for grabs, the state will witness its fiercest election ever as almost all — save for two state legislative assembly seats — will be multi-cornered fights.
Both the ruling coalition and PAS party are contesting all state legislative assembly and parliamentary seats. Meanwhile, PH is contesting 43 state legislative assembly and 14 parliamentary seats.
Amanah, which is contesting five parliamentary and 23 state legislative assembly seats under the PH banner, has sought to portray itself as a progressive party able to marry economic development and multiculturalism without compromising its Islamic core tenets.
Speaking to TODAY, party vice-president Husam Musa said that Amanah “is fighting for the vision of Nik Aziz, which is to support a government formed by a coalition of parties and adopt a multiracial and Islamic approach that is contextual.”
By cosying up to Umno, the current PAS leadership, he added, has departed from Nik Aziz’s mission to topple the ruling coalition at any cost.
“Now, it has become a spoiler for the opposition. If Nik Aziz were alive, he would be furious,” said Husam, who was formerly the PAS strongman’s political secretary.
Amanah could appeal to PAS supporters who want progress while upholding Islamic principles at the same time, said the Penang Institute’s Ooi.
PAS is not taking the threats lightly. To sway voters, it has proposed abolishing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) — a key source of unhappiness for many Malaysians — as well as exempting first-time car buyers from excise duties as well as providing them with interest-free loans.
It also wants to write-off existing loans under the Higher Education Loan Fund.
PAS’ Kelantan secretary, Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi, told TODAY that the party is confident of retaining the state, and insists that it is as formidable as it has ever been.
Saying that its message has been consistent from the start, he added: “We believe that Islam is the solution to address challenges in the state. We have a responsibility to the people to ensure there is a clean government, but we also have a responsibility to God. And we need to uphold Islamic principles.”
A key deciding factor in the election may well turn out to be out-of-state Kelantan voters, who form 15 per cent of the voting population here.
“They play a key role in deciding who forms the state government, whether it will still remain under PAS, or if a new party will helm it,” said the Ilham Centre’s Hisomudin.
Observers say the final result is unpredictable, but they are certain PAS is a weakened colossus, and will be run close, if not defeated.
Technician Afzainaizam Mohd, 43, who lives in the constituency of Chempaka — previously helmed by Nik Abdul Aziz and about half an hour away from the capital city of Kota Baru — has no doubt about what needs to be done.
PAS, he said, has not shown an ability to bring progress to the state.
“They cannot even create jobs and manage the waste situation. Must I stick with them? Yes, the afterlife is important to Muslims, but we still need to earn a livelihood and live properly in this world.” — TODAY
