Battle lines being drawn ahead of Amanah polls

 

Amanah is scheduled to hold its party convention from Dec 22 to 24. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Battle lines are being drawn in Amanah ahead of its party election, with contests expected between leaders linked to Islamic NGO Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram) and those who are not, FMT understands.

A party leader from Melaka who asked to remain anonymous said the biggest battle would likely be for the post of deputy president, which has been vacant since the death of incumbent Salahuddin Ayub in July.

The favourites to contest the post are former Melaka chief minister Adly Zahari, and Mujahid Yusof Rawa, the former MP for Parit Buntar.

The source said there had been talk about the so-called affiliation of certain leaders with Ikram, including those tipped for the number two post.

“Ikram played a huge role in setting up Amanah in 2015, but those who are not linked to the NGO are concerned that it could influence the party’s decisions should leaders aligned to it win in the polls.”

The source said another key concern was the party’s direction after the upcoming Amanah convention, which is slated to be held from Dec 22 to 24.

“Most Amanah leaders came from PAS. They do not want the party to be influenced by outsiders,” the source added, referring to Amanah’s brand of moderate Islam.

Amanah was formed by a group of former PAS leaders from the so-called “professionals” camp. However, it has struggled to assert itself as an alternative to the Perikatan Nasional component party.

The source also said that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was only expected to announce Salahuddin’s successor as domestic trade and cost of living minister after the Amanah polls.

Salahuddin died on July 23 at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar, Kedah, after undergoing surgery due to brain haemorrhage.

Another Amanah leader from Selangor meanwhile played down concerns over the links of some party leaders with Ikram.

“Ikram is just being used as a bogeyman to scare some voters from voting for certain people,” he said, adding that similar tactics were also employed in the last party election. - FMT