A first impression of Dr Sam that tantalises but short of convincing

 Perikatan Nasional chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar held forth persuasively, if not cogently, before a multi-faith gathering hosted by the PAS Ulama Council.

From Terence Netto

For many in the 200-odd gathering of mainly non-Muslim invitees, it was their first close observation at Kelab Shah Alam last Sunday of a man who might be the next prime minister of the country.

Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, rapidly being referred to as “Dr Sam” these days, is an aerospace engineer who serves as the Terengganu menteri besar, vice president of PAS, MP for Kemaman and chairman of Perikatan Nasional.

It’s been a dizzying ascension for the mild-mannered Samsuri, who not so long ago was the political secretary of Abdul Hadi Awang, the president of PAS since 2002.

For perspective on the 79-year-old Hadi’s longevity of tenure as party president, it helps to recall that the country has had, in the near quarter century of Hadi’s tenancy, seven prime ministers – four from Umno, two from Bersatu and one from Pakatan Harapan.

Samsuri was the main attraction at the High Tea organised by the Ulama Council of PAS.

Themed “Peace and Harmony”, the function was aimed at exposing Samsuri to an early appraisal by representatives of non-Muslim religions.

The occasion was part of the PAS outreach to non-Muslims, now that the party is the biggest one in Parliament, with 43 seats and on course to gain more at the next general election (GE16), which must be called by February 2028.

“He is a scientist,” beamed a PAS aide to guests sitting near him as the event’s emcee introduced Samsuri as the evening’s first speaker.

That descriptor must have been meant as reassurance: Samsuri would have no truck with irrationality, probably meaning his scientific training could be counted on to give short shrift to religious extremism.

Mixing Bahasa Melayu with English, Samsuri, cool and collected, spoke for an hour, dwelling on how the multi-culturalism and diversity of Malaysia have elicited from its people a realisation that this is the only home they have and that the sense they belonged to it is inalienable.

This could be interpreted that PAS under him would not engage in “othering” Malaysians.

He cited Sarawak as a good example of how different ethnicities live in harmonic acceptance of each other.

He said cultural differences must be accepted and understood and that religious leaders had a duty to be bridgebuilders.

Samsuri gave the impression that he wanted PAS to help in this bridgebuilding which was probably why the theme for the occasion “Peace and Harmony” was chosen.

Clearly, he meant PAS would not be an agent for the fomenting of division among the Malaysian people.

He managed to say this without betraying any hint that such divisive efforts have recently been abroad in this land.

Samsuri left the gathering immediately after delivering his speech, precluding questions from the floor.

This was wise, he being only a few months in his role as PN chairman, and as such not wanting to expose himself to the welter of controversy and recrimination that suffuses the inter-party and intra-coalition arenas.

At first impression, he seems a man out of steady emotional keel, a competent individual of pleasing personality, with a range whose breadth only time will tell. - FMT

Terence Netto is a senior journalist and an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.