PAS wary of Anwar’s moves

PAS wary of Anwar’s moves

By BARADAN KUPPUSAMY

PAS fears that in an Anwar-led government, concessions made on his way up would mean Islam and Malays being relegated to the backseat.

NOT by piety alone has Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat risen up the ranks of PAS to become the powerful Murshid’ul Am or spiritual leader of the party which has a membership now of over one million.

Splendid political footwork and a willingness to fell his detractors are key elements of his success – a talent that he hides well behind his piousness and charming demeanour.

The way he undermined the PAS-Umno talks and offset PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and his deputy Nasaruddin Mat Isa, then gained the upper hand, is a classic example of how the crafty leader has survived this long in a party given to constant ideological battles.

It is hard to imagine that this 77-year-old veteran started as a part-time adult class teacher with Kemas in 1960 at a time when he was just one of the many Al-Azhar graduates crowding Kota Baru and not yet the Tok Guru he later grew into.

“His style is to give out the rope and let opponents run until they are stretched out. At the right time, he cuts the rope and they tumble,” said a PAS veteran.

Most recently, Abdul Hadi, Nasaruddin and Terengganu commissioner Datuk Mustapha Ali have stumbled for talking with archrival Umno.

The three are set to come under fire at the PAS general assembly in Ipoh from Aug 15, while the Tok Guru is set to shine, having given the green light to the floor to debate the issue.

“The Tok Guru was dead against the talks from the start but he had to give in because the others argued this is new politics, a new Malaysia and they had to talk with the enemy because the political landscape has changed,” said the PAS insider.

“They said PAS had to find firmer footing and not just rely on (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim. He listened patiently but he was upset,” the leader said.

Distancing himself from the talks, Nik Aziz went public with his disapproval, saying “one would not dally with the same snake from the same hole that had bitten them before” – a position that pleased and reassured the PAS rank and file who are daily engaged in battle with Umno.

He added pressure suggesting the Umno-PAS meeting be re-classified as a muqabalah (face-to-face interview) and not a muzakarah (dialogue) to satisfy members of PKR and DAP who saw PAS’ move as a betrayal of Pakatan Rakyat.

Finally, Nik Aziz dropped a bombshell – that PAS and Umno merge into one entity on condition Islamic Hudud and Qizas laws are implemented in Malaysia – a suggestion that sent both sides scurrying for cover.

“It was a shrewd announcement designed to derail the talks by setting a condition impossible to achieve politically but at the same time confirming his status as an Islamic leader,” said PAS insiders.

Last week, led by Nik Aziz, the PAS leadership debated for five hours on the issue and Abdul Hadi and Nasaruddin came under severe pressure to explain themselves and what they hope to achieve with Umno.

The Tok Guru had formidable opponents ranged against him – ultra-conservative Dewan Ulama members Datuk Mohamed Daud, Datuk Harun Taib and faith healer Datuk Dr Haron Din who all felt that talking with a political rival but a Muslim brother, nevertheless, is all right in Islam as long as Muslim unity is given priority.

While the discussions were wide-ranging, the core issue was Anwar and whether he could get the 30 or so government backbenchers from Sabah and Sarawak to cross over to form a new government and its impact for Malay political pre-eminence and for Islam.

If Anwar succeeds, the government he would form would not only be majority non-Muslim but more importantly non-Malay, argued some PAS leaders.

PAS secretary general Kamaruddin Jaafar, an Anwar-supporter in the PAS leadership tried to lessen the fears, arguing that PKR is a Malay-Muslim-led party and that Anwar would never forsake Islam for political gain.

But he failed to convince most of the gathered PAS leaders.

“Many PAS leaders are squeamish about Anwar’s liberal policies and his promises to non-Muslims that he would uphold the secular society. They worry that Malays and Islam would lose in the long run under a new Anwar-led government,” said PAS insiders.

“His constant grab for power is unsettling PAS and this is the real reason why PAS agreed to talk with Umno,” added an insider. “After all, we are a Islamic party first and a Malay party second.”

Eventually, a compromise emerged.

Nik Aziz agreed that PAS continue meeting political parties including Umno and organisations including NGOs on national issues. At the same time, PAS will stay with Pakatan Rakyat come what may.

Giving the cold shoulder to Umno, however, does not settle the core issue before PAS – how to anchor a purely Islamic party in an evolving multi-racial landscape where religion is relegated to the backseat.

kzso - looks like anwar has suceeded in controlling pas. period.