PAS Youth chief warns leadership it risks losing Kelantan

PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat says voters in Kelantan are prepared to punish PAS if it does not improve its administration of the state. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, September 16, 2014.

PAS Youth has warned the Islamist party that it is in danger of losing the Kelantan government, just like how it lost Kedah in the 2013 general election last year, if nothing is done to resolve differences among its leadership and improve the state administration.

Its chief, Suhaizan Kaiat, said internal troubles should not be used as an excuse for the party to fall apart when there was enough room for discussions.

"PAS only survived one term in Kedah, just like how it did in Terengganu in the 10th general election. But Pakatan Rakyat managed to stay on in Selangor and Penang.

"In the last general election in Kelantan, support for PAS from those living in the state had gone down to less than 50%. It was the support of the Kelantanese who living outside the state that helped PAS win," he said at the 55th PAS Youth muktamar in Kota Tinggi, Johor, today.

Suhaizan said this was a signal that voters in Kelantan were getting unhappy with the PAS administration's performance.

He said there were also concerns that Kelantanese living outstation would not want to return to their hometowns to vote for "various reasons".

It could spell trouble for the party because voters in Kelantan were critical and they could easily reject anyone whom they thought unfit to govern their state, he said.

"History has already proven that they can reject PAS if they are unhappy with the party's performance in the state.”

Suhaizan said PAS spiritual adviser, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, had been influential in helping the party retain Kelantan.

"There are voters in Kelantan who disagree with PAS but continue to support the party as they respect Nik Aziz.

"For some voters, Nik Aziz is bigger than the party," Suhaizan said.

But he said the Nik Aziz factor would diminish with time as the veteran politician would not be leading the Islamic party in the next general election.

"Nik Aziz is no longer the Kelantan menteri besar and PAS has yet to show that the party can survive without his influence.

"The party must resolve its internal differences quickly and plan well for the next general election."

He added that no matter how bitter the internal conflict, compromises could still be reached.

"What is important is whether there is sincerity is resolving the differences among the factions in PAS."

Suhaizan said PAS's loss in Kedah in the 2013 general election was a bitter experience caused by failure to resolve internal conflicts.

"The rakyat punished us in Kedah, which not only tarnished the party's reputation in the state, but the whole of Malaysia.”

- TMI