Empower ulamas to defeat PAS, Amanah leadership told

AMANAH AGM | Amanah must empower its ulama and asatizah (religious teachers) group if it wants to defeat PAS, delegates at Amanah’s national convention in Ipoh were told today.

Pahang Amanah delegate Sazli Mohd Noor, in saying this, stressed that the party has yet to be seen as a balancing power against PAS in the political arena.

"We want to say that up until today, Amanah has yet to be a party that can be depended on by the rakyat as a party which can balance PAS' radical power in the political arena.

"Because we have yet to be successful in pushing forward our ulama and asatizah group. Where are our ulama and asatizah?

"If we want to compete with PAS, this group must be put on the frontlines. If we see today, there are no important positions (in the government) that are given to them.

"These are the figures who are capable to tone down, to defeat the radical party and we hope that our party would not neglect the ulama group," he said in his debate of the party president's policy speech.

No more 'flip-flopping'

Meanwhile, Perlis Amanah delegate Muhammad Yahaya called for the party’s leadership to play a role in preventing the Harapan administration from making more "flip-flop" decisions in the future.

He said inconsistencies in the Harapan administration's decision-making process would only make the people confused and unhappy.

"Today we see that (Harapan) has made a lot of ‘flip flop’, inconsistent decisions. For example, the issue of PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation).

"The people became confused with us, when we make one decision but change it the next day," he said.

A recent proposal to implement scheduled salary deductions for PTPTN student loans was postponedafter it came under fire from PTPTN borrowers as well as politicians from both sides of the divide.

"I want to ask Amanah leaders, especially the leader who is in the (Harapan) presidential council, to advise (menegur)... although those involved came from other parties, but we have the authority to ensure there is no ‘flip flop’ which makes the people angry and which eventually affects Amanah as we become a target of their dissatisfaction," he added.

Muhammad was referring to Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, who is a member of the Harapan presidential council.

The delegate, in bringing the motion titled 'Upholding Harapan’s consensus’ (Menjunjung muafakat Pakatan Harapan), added that Amanah should also champion the efforts to empower Harapan by addressing issues concerning the people, especially the B40 group, to ensure Harapan's sustainability. - Mkini