Hadi should step down to end confusion in PAS, says Husam

Datuk Husam Musa says PAS leaders should stop issuing contradictory messages about working with Umno and Malay right-wing group, Perkasa. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, November 7, 2015.

The time has come for Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to step down as PAS president and make way for a new leader capable of bringing change to the Islamist party, said a former party vice president.

Datuk Husam Musa said Hadi needed to be replaced if members wanted to see an end to the confusion and turmoil engulfing the party.

This was following several statements, which appeared contradictory, coming from the leaderships over various issues, ranging from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) to cooperation with Umno and Malay right-wing group, Perkasa, which have confused the grassroots.

As a solution, the Salor assemblyman threw in the name of PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man as someone capable of taking over the party leadership.

“I agree with the view of Datuk Hassan Mahmud al-Hafiz who said some PAS leaders needed to give way to new faces.

“As a member of the PAS, I feel this is a reasonable request,” said Husam in an interview with The Malaysian Insider in Kota Baru recently.

He was referring to the famous preacher’s observation last month that PAS was being tested by Allah with the lack of strong leaders.

Without mentioning any names, Hassan said perhaps some of the top leaders should consider retreating, to make way for more capable replacements from the younger generation.

Husam also attributed the confusion and turmoil to a lack of transparency and consensus among its leaders.

“If you are with the president, the group appears to want to cooperate with Umno and Perkasa. But the party itself has yet to make a decision on this.”

This, he said, could be seen when Hadi and Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali embraced during a meeting recently.

“When the president was embraced by the president of Perkasa, Selangor PAS quickly came out with a statement rejecting the cooperation.

“Such a thing would not have happened if the matter was discussed centrally beforehand.

“This shows there is no consensus in PAS. Political statements by any party, including the president himself, appear spontaneous and unrefined. This is not good for PAS.”

It was reported last month that Hadi and Ibrahim sealed an agreement to work together on issues related to Islamic and Malay interests.

Husam said if the top leaders appeared to be uncertain about their decisions, one could only imagine how confusing this could be for the grassroots.

“This alone is enough to tear down not only the Kelantan PAS, but also others throughout the country.”

He said the non-consensus was also apparent when some of the PAS leaders defended 1MDB.

“Islam is unlikely to compromise with such the amount of deviation regardless of any political affiliation and consideration.”

Husam said when leaders made “out-of-the-world” statements without explaining them, it would confuse only the grassroots.

“For instance, as a leader in Kubang Kerian, I could not accept what the party meant by cooperation with Umno.

“What does Datuk Ahmad Yakub (Kelantan menteri besar) mean when he said that PAS can cooperate with Umno on certain matters?

“If he means by the flood crisis, such is not cooperation between two political parties.

“It is cooperation between the state and the federal government.

“This kind of confusion, if not addressed quickly, can lead to bigger problems in the party.”

- TMI