As party loyalists reel from the revelation that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang attempted to form a unity government with Umno in Selangor behind the party's back, the growing discontent against the Islamic party leader may eventually lead to his ouster.
PAS leaders, particularly among those who are pro-Pakatan Rakyat, were said to be incensed that Hadi had offered PKR deputy president Azmin Ali the post of Selangor menteri besar and enticed state assemblypersons aligned to him to defect to PAS - giving the party enough numbers to take over Selangor by forming an alliance with arch-rival Umno.
Hadi was reportedly confronted about the secret plan by other PAS central committee members at a party meeting on Aug 25 to discuss its latest move on the Selangor crisis.
However, the Marang MP, through his political secretary Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, vehemently denied the matter after it became public.
But several PAS sources toldMalaysiakini that Hadi did admit at the central committee meeting his clandestine scheme to work with Umno.
The revelation not only stirred discontent among the pro-Pakatan Rakyat leaders, often referred to as the Erdogans, but it even shocked some conservative party members who have been Hadi’s most ardent supporters.
It came amid an attempt by Pakatan to replace Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim with a new candidate - PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Party sources said that several leaders had engaged in a heated argument with Hadi at Monday’s meeting, while other disgruntled members even gave up talking to their leader.
Aside from being outraged by the alleged machinations, some PAS leaders were also upset that Hadi's stubborn refusal to back Wan Azizah had put them at odds with their Pakatan partners, thus prolonging the Selangor crisis.
Litmus test for Hadi
On Aug 17, PAS proposed both Wan Azizah and Azmin as candidates to replace Khalid as menteri besar, while the Pakatan leadership council, at a later meeting which was attended by PAS leaders, unanimously backed Wan Azizah as its sole nominee.
Monday's meeting essentially set the table for the PAS muktamar or annual delegates conference next month, and this could turn into a litmus test for Hadi.
While the muktamar, scheduled for Sept 18 to 20 in Johor Bahru, will not see any party election which was already conducted last year, a party insider told Malaysiakini that a manoeuvre against the president is not out of the question.
At least two PAS presidents have been ousted in past muktamar sessions, even though it was not an election year.
The source drew parallels with the 1982 muktamar where the policy speech of the then president, Asri Muda, which would customarily be approved by delegates, was suddenly voted down.
The move was seen as a symbolic rejection of Asri, similar to how a defeated budget in a Westminister parliamentary system is taken as a vote of no confidence against a prime minister.
Asri was subsequently replaced by Yusof Rawa.
Meanwhile in 1986, Yusof himself came under siege when a motion on using the Chinese Consultative Council (CCC) to promote PAS policies to non-Muslims was rejected by the muktamar, even though the idea was promoted in his policy speech.
"This was seen as a rejection of the president," said the source.
Problematic ties with Pakatan
However, according to the source, the groundswell against Hadi may not have reached a breaking point yet and those disillusioned with him may have to wait until the party polls next year to oust him.
PAS elected leaders serve for short two-year terms, compared to other parties which generally observe a three-year term.
"The president will be challenged (in an election)," the party insider said.
Those upset with Hadi are puzzled by his particular resentment with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim as their leader's anger against the opposition leader was apparent at Monday's meeting.
Hadi was reportedly outraged that two PAS state assemblypersons had unanimously backed Wan Azizah, seeing it as PKR's “theft” of its elected representatives, and used it to justify enticing defections from PKR to PAS and for the Islamic party to join forces with Umno.
Hadi had, in the past, also caused friction in Pakatan, particularly during the 13th general election, when he approved PAS candidates in several constituencies that the coalition initially agreed would be contested by PKR, resulting in three-cornered contests.
PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli earlier this month also revealed that Hadi did not want Anwar as prime minister had Pakatan taken Putrajaya the last general election, preferring instead Umno's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in the top job.
Others are also unhappy with Hadi for his ‘one man show’ in the leading the party.
This perception stems largely from the president's tendency to rely on his inner circle, mostly from the conservative faction, instead of delegating tasks or discussing issues with his elected lieutenants, who include the Erdogans.
"Hadi does not trust some of his own senior leaders," a source told Malaysiakini.
No clear successor
However, many PAS members are in two minds on ousting Hadi as there is no clear successor given the convention since the early 1980s requiring that the Islamic party’s president be an ulama (cleric).
At present, there is only one ulama in the senior-most leadership, PAS vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, with the deputy president and other vice-president posts being dominated by the Erdogans.
One of the party's vice-presidents, Salahuddin Ayub (left), while conceding that the ouster of PAS president in the past was not unheard of, called on the members to judge Hadi fairly.
"Let time decide. Be fair to the president, let him make his arguments, give his views and answer questions openly as the party's chief.
"The delegates will also give their honest evaluation at the muktamar. It is a platform for members to speak up about their hopes or voice criticism," Salahuddin told Malaysiakini.
He said this in responding to a question on whether Hadi's overture to Umno, in violation of the muktamar's previous decision, would result in the party groundswell against the leader.
Nonetheless, and regardless of whether a manoeuvre against Hadi is initiated next month or next year, the president can still rely on his core support base. Already, some of his supporters have come out in his defence, albeit subtly.
PAS central committee member Nasrudin Hassan depicted the ongoing situation as “an ark being attacked by pirates” on the high seas.
"Unfortunately, our own skippers are trying to stab the captain in the back. It can be that these skippers are conspiring with the pirates to take the ark," lamented Nasrudin in a Facebook posting yesterday.
PAS leaders, particularly among those who are pro-Pakatan Rakyat, were said to be incensed that Hadi had offered PKR deputy president Azmin Ali the post of Selangor menteri besar and enticed state assemblypersons aligned to him to defect to PAS - giving the party enough numbers to take over Selangor by forming an alliance with arch-rival Umno.
Hadi was reportedly confronted about the secret plan by other PAS central committee members at a party meeting on Aug 25 to discuss its latest move on the Selangor crisis.
However, the Marang MP, through his political secretary Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, vehemently denied the matter after it became public.
But several PAS sources toldMalaysiakini that Hadi did admit at the central committee meeting his clandestine scheme to work with Umno.The revelation not only stirred discontent among the pro-Pakatan Rakyat leaders, often referred to as the Erdogans, but it even shocked some conservative party members who have been Hadi’s most ardent supporters.
It came amid an attempt by Pakatan to replace Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim with a new candidate - PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Party sources said that several leaders had engaged in a heated argument with Hadi at Monday’s meeting, while other disgruntled members even gave up talking to their leader.
Aside from being outraged by the alleged machinations, some PAS leaders were also upset that Hadi's stubborn refusal to back Wan Azizah had put them at odds with their Pakatan partners, thus prolonging the Selangor crisis.
Litmus test for Hadi
On Aug 17, PAS proposed both Wan Azizah and Azmin as candidates to replace Khalid as menteri besar, while the Pakatan leadership council, at a later meeting which was attended by PAS leaders, unanimously backed Wan Azizah as its sole nominee.
Monday's meeting essentially set the table for the PAS muktamar or annual delegates conference next month, and this could turn into a litmus test for Hadi.
While the muktamar, scheduled for Sept 18 to 20 in Johor Bahru, will not see any party election which was already conducted last year, a party insider told Malaysiakini that a manoeuvre against the president is not out of the question.At least two PAS presidents have been ousted in past muktamar sessions, even though it was not an election year.
The source drew parallels with the 1982 muktamar where the policy speech of the then president, Asri Muda, which would customarily be approved by delegates, was suddenly voted down.
The move was seen as a symbolic rejection of Asri, similar to how a defeated budget in a Westminister parliamentary system is taken as a vote of no confidence against a prime minister.
Asri was subsequently replaced by Yusof Rawa.
Meanwhile in 1986, Yusof himself came under siege when a motion on using the Chinese Consultative Council (CCC) to promote PAS policies to non-Muslims was rejected by the muktamar, even though the idea was promoted in his policy speech.
"This was seen as a rejection of the president," said the source.
Problematic ties with Pakatan
However, according to the source, the groundswell against Hadi may not have reached a breaking point yet and those disillusioned with him may have to wait until the party polls next year to oust him.
PAS elected leaders serve for short two-year terms, compared to other parties which generally observe a three-year term.
"The president will be challenged (in an election)," the party insider said.
Those upset with Hadi are puzzled by his particular resentment with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim as their leader's anger against the opposition leader was apparent at Monday's meeting.
Hadi was reportedly outraged that two PAS state assemblypersons had unanimously backed Wan Azizah, seeing it as PKR's “theft” of its elected representatives, and used it to justify enticing defections from PKR to PAS and for the Islamic party to join forces with Umno.
Hadi had, in the past, also caused friction in Pakatan, particularly during the 13th general election, when he approved PAS candidates in several constituencies that the coalition initially agreed would be contested by PKR, resulting in three-cornered contests.PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli earlier this month also revealed that Hadi did not want Anwar as prime minister had Pakatan taken Putrajaya the last general election, preferring instead Umno's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in the top job.
Others are also unhappy with Hadi for his ‘one man show’ in the leading the party.
This perception stems largely from the president's tendency to rely on his inner circle, mostly from the conservative faction, instead of delegating tasks or discussing issues with his elected lieutenants, who include the Erdogans.
"Hadi does not trust some of his own senior leaders," a source told Malaysiakini.
No clear successor
However, many PAS members are in two minds on ousting Hadi as there is no clear successor given the convention since the early 1980s requiring that the Islamic party’s president be an ulama (cleric).
At present, there is only one ulama in the senior-most leadership, PAS vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, with the deputy president and other vice-president posts being dominated by the Erdogans.
One of the party's vice-presidents, Salahuddin Ayub (left), while conceding that the ouster of PAS president in the past was not unheard of, called on the members to judge Hadi fairly."Let time decide. Be fair to the president, let him make his arguments, give his views and answer questions openly as the party's chief.
"The delegates will also give their honest evaluation at the muktamar. It is a platform for members to speak up about their hopes or voice criticism," Salahuddin told Malaysiakini.
He said this in responding to a question on whether Hadi's overture to Umno, in violation of the muktamar's previous decision, would result in the party groundswell against the leader.
Nonetheless, and regardless of whether a manoeuvre against Hadi is initiated next month or next year, the president can still rely on his core support base. Already, some of his supporters have come out in his defence, albeit subtly.
PAS central committee member Nasrudin Hassan depicted the ongoing situation as “an ark being attacked by pirates” on the high seas.
"Unfortunately, our own skippers are trying to stab the captain in the back. It can be that these skippers are conspiring with the pirates to take the ark," lamented Nasrudin in a Facebook posting yesterday.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.