PN chair must be Hadi or Tuan Ibrahim, says PAS leader

 

While speculation over who will be appointed to lead Perikatan Nasional remains unresolved, an influential figure in PAS has stressed that the party has no option but to elevate one of its two top leaders to the post.

Former PAS central committee member Zuhdi Marsuki said the party has little choice but to make such a decision if it truly intends to implement the resolutions adopted at its last muktamar.

He said the PN chairperson to be nominated to replace Muhyiddin Yassin should be PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang himself, or at the very least his deputy, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

“Appointing another figure as PN chairperson to represent PAS would contradict PAS’ political principles,” Zuhdi (above) stressed in a social media post today.

He also reminded that PAS’ benchmark for a head of government is a figure such as Hadi or the late Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang

Referring to the PAS muktamar held in Kota Sarang Semut, Alor Setar, Kedah, in September last year, he said it clearly concluded with a resolution that PAS should lead PN.

The former political secretary to Tuan Ibrahim during the latter’s time as a minister claimed many have forgotten that PAS practises the principle of ulama leadership, which should continue if the party leads PN and eventually the government.

“This is in line with the principle of ulama leadership. The muktamar resolution that PAS should lead PN must be read together with the muktamar resolutions on ulama leadership that have been formulated since the early 1980s.

“After that, almost every PAS muktamar has reiterated calls to strengthen ulama leadership.

“The concept of ulama leadership championed by PAS is not only a legal doctrine on leadership in Islamic jurisprudence, but has also become a political principle fought for by PAS,” Zuhdi said.

Impatient to reach Putrajaya

Those who refuse to accept PAS’ political principles, Zuhdi claimed, will eventually leave the party - just as the group that went on to form Amanah once did.

“By convention, whoever becomes PN chairperson will be the prime minister if PN wins.

“If the PN chairperson is from PAS, then Malaysia will one day have a prime minister from among the ulama. For PAS supporters who have long been involved in PAS activism, this aspiration has long been deeply rooted,” he explained.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin

Muhyiddin stepped down as PN chairperson following the administrative crisis in the Perlis state government, which saw relations between PAS and Bersatu become increasingly tense.

This was accompanied by strong statements from several PAS leaders, including its youth chief, who used the word “get out” against parties deemed to have betrayed the administration of Shukri Ramli as menteri besar.

Although Muhyiddin has announced his resignation as PN chairperson, it has yet to be confirmed, as under the coalition’s Constitution, the decision must be endorsed by its supreme council.

To date, the PN supreme council has yet to convene to discuss Muhyiddin’s resignation.

For the record, despite the resignation, Muhyiddin remains Bersatu president, which also places him as a member of PN’s supreme council.

Zuhdi also said his views had caused unease among some PAS members.

“They are a hasty group, impatient to walk the corridors of the government administrative complex in Putrajaya,” he said, referring to reactions to an interview with a local media outlet.

‘Follow leadership’s decision’

PAS Central Information Department Research and Policy Division director Nurul Islam Yusoff expressed a differing view from Zuhdi in a post today.

PAS Central Information Department Research and Policy Division director Nurul Islam Yusoff

He said the motion calling for PAS to lead PN was clear and unambiguous in its intent, and there was no need to read it together with other matters.

Nurul Islam also accused Zuhdi of creating something that does not exist.

“PAS leadership itself can come from any background and has no prerequisite - so how can the PN chairperson suddenly have a prerequisite of having to be an ulama?

“Do not create what does not exist. Follow the leadership’s decision and restrain yourself from issuing personal views,” he wrote. - Mkini