Samsuri needs PAS’s full backing to be PM candidate, says analyst

 IIUM's Syaza Shukri is puzzled by PAS’s refusal to name Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as its prime ministerial candidate despite making him PN chairman.

PAS’s Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is the new Perikatan Nasional chairman and a leading candidate to take over as opposition leader in the Dewan Rakyat.(Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar may hold the Perikatan Nasional chairmanship, but analysts say he still lacks full backing from PAS to be named its prime ministerial candidate.

International Islamic University Malaysia’s Syaza Shukri described PAS’s stance as “puzzling”, noting that while the party has positioned Samsuri as a candidate to take over as opposition leader in Parliament, it has stopped short of endorsing him as its choice for prime minister.

Syaza Shukri.

She added that whoever is named to succeed Hamzah Zainudin as opposition leader in the Dewan Rakyat should naturally be regarded as the bloc’s prime ministerial candidate.

“If PAS itself cannot come to an agreement (on who it wants as prime minister), then it will be difficult (for Samsuri to be nominated). Honestly, the situation in PAS right now is quite confusing.

“Samsuri was chosen as PN chairman because he was seen as a candidate acceptable to all components, given his image as a moderate and a technocrat.

“But when it comes to the prime ministerial candidate, other names are floated instead,” she told FMT.

Zaharudin Muhammad, son-in-law of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang recently said Samsuri was suitable as opposition leader, but not as the party’s candidate for prime minister.

The Sungai Buloh PAS chief said party deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and vice-president Idris Ahmad — both from its ulama faction — were more qualified for the Putrajaya hotseat.

He said this was the stand held by PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin.

Unlike PAS, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin is his party’s nominee for prime minister.

PAS, however, has held back. The Islamic party previously said it did not want to unveil its choice too early, fearing the candidate would be exposed to attacks from rivals.

Syaza suggested the unease with Samsuri stems from his not being part of PAS’s ulama faction, fearing that the party may be seen as straying from its ideals.

However, she said Samsuri may get the party’s full backing if all PN components support his nomination.

Akademi Nusantara’s Azmi Hassan said PAS must make a definitive choice on its prime ministerial candidate and stand by it, stressing that only a clear decision will put the matter to rest. - FMT