The recent PAS muktamar has come at the expense of professionals in the party, who were all wiped out in the elections to the central committee. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, June 11, 2015.
The PAS professionals who lost at the party elections last week have indicated that they will not take up any posts offered to them by the new ulama-dominated leadership.
Even as pressure mounts for the group to act to strengthen Pakatan Rakyat, all said they preferred to adopt a “wait-and-see” approach
“For the time being, I will be an ordinary member. Let me take this opportunity to dedicate myself to the grassroots, who want me to spend more time with them,” former PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub told The Malaysian Insider.
Salahuddin was the most senior vice-president in the party before he was wiped out in the contentious elections, along with Datuk Husam Musa and Datuk Mahfuz Omar.
PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man yesterday reportedly said the professionals would be offered positions to the central committee, but the leaders said today they would decline such offers.
Leaders can be appointed as secretary-general, assistant secretaries-general, treasurer and information chief.
Former PAS central committee members Khalid Samad and Abang Ahmad Kerde Abang Masagus, as well as former Women’s wing committee member Wan Aishah Wan Arifin have announced their intention to reject any posts.
Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa said he wanted to give the new leadership a "free hand".
"Last time, we were seen as a stumbling block to the president and the leadership to pursue their own agendas," said Mujahid, who resigned from his Penang government posts following the muktamar resolution to cue ties with DAP but stay with PR.
Sepang MP Hanipa Maidin also said that he would not accept the offer.
"I would not accept any position.”
Kota Raja MP Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud also said she preferred to concentrate on "constituency work", adding she has been in the central committee "long enough."
Their stance is in response to the ulama’s faction view of them, as voiced out by Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Dr Mahfudz Mohamad in an interview with Umno-owned newspaper Mingguan Malaysia last Sunday.
Mahfudz had said PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was at times “forced” to make decisions on his own in the past, because the professionals, which dominated the previous central committee, were strong and would throw out facts to prevent any decision being made.
“Now, when most of the central committee are pro-ulama, work will be easier because each of them knows PAS’s policies. All the ustaz (teachers) understand the issue and their loyalty towards the president will be stronger,” Mahfudz was quoted as saying.
But despite their decision to reject all leadership posts, the PAS professionals have resolved not to remain idle and will meet grassroots members across the country to hear their thoughts before determining the next course of action.
Salahuddin said he would try to learn what the grassroots wanted, what they were unhappy with, and their hopes for the party.
Meanwhile, PAS splinter group Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (Pasma), which the ulama see as a thorn in the party’s side, will hold a round table discussion on Saturday in Shah Alam on the future of PAS.
“We have summoned all our state leaders and invited NGO leaders to join our round table and provide input on what we should do, in the wake of last week’s muktamar,” Pasma secretary-general Taib Ahmad told The Malaysian Insider.
- TMI
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