PAS to focus on GE13, not other issues, say officials

KOTA BARU, Nov 16 — Discussions about the next general election are expected to dominate the annual PAS muktamar here starting today, with the Islamist party working out strategies to push beyond its Election 2008 success and gain more support despite being demonised for seeking an Islamic state for Malaysia.

Top PAS officials expect party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s speech to centre on preparations to get Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to defeat the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) and capture Putrajaya.

Salahuddin said issues about individuals were irrelevant as this stage of the party’s preparations for the general election.

“It is more important for us to show our leadership capabilities so PAS qualifies, not only as good as BN, but even better. We’re at the last stretch ... we don’t care about these trivial issues,” PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub toldThe Malaysian Insider.

He also said issues such as Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar’s statement about freedom of religion for all, including Muslims, and former PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa’s membership were irrelevant at this stage of election preparation.

“(Nasharuddin) can come any time he wants because he is a member of the Syura, but we have never discussed to remove him just because of his absence.”

The Kubang Kerian MP also stressed that the issue of Nurul Izzah will not be touched today as he believed that the 1,200 delegates would not be duped by BN’s hyperbole. Most of the pro-government mass media have been reporting on the statement and quoting Umno leaders in asking the PKR vice-president to repent and recant her statement.

Salahuddin’s view was echoed by fellow vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar, who said: “This conference is to increase the party’s momentum for the last sprint so that the election machinery can bring victory for PAS.

Mahfuz said the party machinery must ‘shift to fifth gear’ for the general election.

“One thing we want is for the machinery to ‘shift to fifth gear’ since the election will happen any time, and we’re in the final lap.

“I don’t see that Nurul Izzah’s issue will be brought up ... but we will touch on how Umno, BN manipulated it,” the Pokok Sena MP added.

“Besides that, we will also bring up other external issues, like BN’s failure of riding on religion for political interest.”

Meanwhile, Ulama wing chief Datuk Harun Taib said PAS did not need to discuss matters of individuals in their annual meet.

“Among the essence of the president’s speech, as we have expected, is to work strategically to defeat BN in the next election.

“Small personal matters will not be discussed because this is a party’s annual assembly.”

Nasharuddin’s absence from the annual muktamar was also not an issue for him, Harun said, adding: “If (Nasharuddin) is abroad, it is fine if he doesn’t come ... If he decides to come, it is okay (too), it is his right as a Syura member.”

The PAS muktamar was preceded by the Youth, women and ulama wings’ muktamar yesterday, and will continue in Pusat Tarbiyah Islamiyah Kelantan (Putik) until Sunday.