ALOR STAR – The first day of the 68th PAS muktamar gathering here has ended, with PAS still trying to court Umno while maintaining its formal partnership with Perikatan Nasional (PN).
It is unclear whether the Islamist party will choose one over the other despite signs that the 15th election is looming, and despite analysts’ expectations that PAS would use this annual assembly to determine its roadmap ahead of GE15.
Knowing the limits of its own strength, some PAS insiders have previously said the party should have a hybrid arrangement for GE15, working with Umno in some Malay heartland states, and with PN for seats where the opposition Pakatan Harapan is strong.
PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang remained coy when peppered with questions on whether the party would opt to work only with PN, whose lead party Bersatu gave PAS MPs cabinet posts and other appointments during the PN administration after the Sheraton Move.
Perhaps mindful of the presence of Bersatu president and PN coalition leader Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the muktamar, Hadi spoke of Muslim unity as PAS’ ultimate agenda, with or without Umno.
PAS and Umno have an informal pact called Muafakat Nasional (MN), formed after Umno-Barisan Nasional lost federal power for the first time in the 2018 general election.
Hadi also spoke of his vision in his policy speech that PAS must showcase prosperity using Islam, by promoting good governance as it has done in the three states it controls: Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan.
While visiting the media booth at the muktamar, PAS information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin affirmed PAS’ commitment towards PN, saying it would remain a member of the coalition.
However, he added: “What is on our mind now is how we can work with Umno.”
On whether PAS would choose either PN or Muafakat, Khairil said he believes that some in Umno still want to work with PAS.
The challenge, however, is how PAS will handle Umno given “various machinations”, he said.
“We hope at the conclusion of our muktamar, our path forward is clear.”
This could explain Hadi’s response to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s criticism of MN and that PAS had been a “superficial” political partner.
Hadi said Zahid’s view was a personal one and not all of Umno’s, adding that as far as PAS is concerned, the MN pact still exists.
Zahid, on the day before the muktamar began, took to Facebook to complain about PAS ditching Umno in favour of formally joining PN, saying it was time for Umno to move on.
PAS has some one million members, and it is regarded as one of the biggest political parties in the country after Umno.
It won 18 federal seats in the 2018 election, but currently only has 17 MPs after Kuala Nerus MP Datuk Khairuddin Aman Razali quit the party in March this year to become an independent lawmaker.
Some 1,300 delegates are attending the muktamar, which continues tomorrow on the final day with debates and resolutions. – The Vibes, September 3, 2022
