The need for balance in PAS — EK Yin
The unprecedented success of PAS in the 12th General Elections of March 2008 is due in no small measure to the unstinting efforts of relatively young professionals steeped in Islam.
That they are able to capture urban constituencies, as well as those with significant numbers of non-Malays, is certainly noteworthy. In the past the party did not venture beyond the relatively safe Malay Belt of the East Coast States.
As such, this represents a major breakthrough in terms of dismantling the then-prevalent conservative mental-block of party members and a bold overture to those of other faiths.
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That this historic success is also partly due to the consequence of the selfish, domineering arrogance of Umno and its unbridled corruption, as well as the spineless subservience of its equally morally weak partners in the BN is clear.
But what really stands out is the ability and novel approach of the party’s young professionals to overcome the apprehension of the non-Malays, conditioned by decades of negative Umno propaganda about PAS and its extremist ways, by emphasising on the universal commonalities and virtues of their faith in their writings and ceramahs.
What also helped was the enthusiastic endorsement of its Pakatan partners, namely DAP and PKR.
At this point, all 3 partners acknowledge their interdependence and that no one party could have achieved victory alone.
As such, it is incomprehensible to the public, both Muslim and non-Muslim, that the so-called religious scholars in PAS should stake claim to the leadership of the party.
What is not lost in the electorate is the fact that in the history of PAS it has never succeeded in making any critical gains beyond the Malay-Muslim belt of the East Coast States.
This is primarily due to the reluctance of the ulama leadership to venture beyond their safe confines or share their thoughts and visions with those of other faiths,
For a party that consists of aspiring leaders who are not hesitant to cite the Koran to back their cause this is one instance where the religious scholars of PAS would be hard-put to cite any Koranic verse to justify their claims to exclusive leadership. The uncompromising stance of some of the more ambitious ulamas tantamounts to a position whereby no matter how loyal, able, pious or well versed in Islam a professional is, he or she is just not good enough to assume the leadership of the party.
In other words, meritocracy has no place in the party and the top positions are strictly the preserve of the religious scholars.
One dreads to think of what would happen should PR be victorious in the next general election and PAS stakes a claim for the PM’s post. In the present complex world one needs more than a sound knowledge in religion to administer a nation that is as racially, religiously and culturally diverse as Malaysia.
Perhaps, it is pertinent at this juncture for PAS to seriously evaluate the possible contributions of both the ulamas and the professionals to not only the party but also the nation at this point of Malaysia’s history. The electorate has spoken and what they look forward to from Pakatan Rakyat is plain for all to see.
How effectively the coalition is going to work in delivering their promises to the people depends on whether PAS is going to retain its successful formula and team or take a gamble on a new strategy that may not go down well with its partners.
The ulamas of PAS will do well to also bear in mind that the electorate always have the final say. Whether they choose to vote PR to power as the new Federal Government or vote for the devil they once knew (Umno/BN) depends on the message PAS sends out by way of the leadership they choose in their coming big pow-wow in June.
Pas should take note of the support the non-Malays gave to Tok Guru Nik Aziz and Dato Seri Nizar Jamaluddin in the recent Bukit Gantang Parliamentary elections, to get an unmistakable idea of the kind of religious and professional PAS leaders that the people will support.
There must be balance.
THINK.
That they are able to capture urban constituencies, as well as those with significant numbers of non-Malays, is certainly noteworthy. In the past the party did not venture beyond the relatively safe Malay Belt of the East Coast States.
As such, this represents a major breakthrough in terms of dismantling the then-prevalent conservative mental-block of party members and a bold overture to those of other faiths.
Read More...
That this historic success is also partly due to the consequence of the selfish, domineering arrogance of Umno and its unbridled corruption, as well as the spineless subservience of its equally morally weak partners in the BN is clear.
But what really stands out is the ability and novel approach of the party’s young professionals to overcome the apprehension of the non-Malays, conditioned by decades of negative Umno propaganda about PAS and its extremist ways, by emphasising on the universal commonalities and virtues of their faith in their writings and ceramahs.
What also helped was the enthusiastic endorsement of its Pakatan partners, namely DAP and PKR.
At this point, all 3 partners acknowledge their interdependence and that no one party could have achieved victory alone.
As such, it is incomprehensible to the public, both Muslim and non-Muslim, that the so-called religious scholars in PAS should stake claim to the leadership of the party.
What is not lost in the electorate is the fact that in the history of PAS it has never succeeded in making any critical gains beyond the Malay-Muslim belt of the East Coast States.
This is primarily due to the reluctance of the ulama leadership to venture beyond their safe confines or share their thoughts and visions with those of other faiths,
For a party that consists of aspiring leaders who are not hesitant to cite the Koran to back their cause this is one instance where the religious scholars of PAS would be hard-put to cite any Koranic verse to justify their claims to exclusive leadership. The uncompromising stance of some of the more ambitious ulamas tantamounts to a position whereby no matter how loyal, able, pious or well versed in Islam a professional is, he or she is just not good enough to assume the leadership of the party.
In other words, meritocracy has no place in the party and the top positions are strictly the preserve of the religious scholars.
One dreads to think of what would happen should PR be victorious in the next general election and PAS stakes a claim for the PM’s post. In the present complex world one needs more than a sound knowledge in religion to administer a nation that is as racially, religiously and culturally diverse as Malaysia.
Perhaps, it is pertinent at this juncture for PAS to seriously evaluate the possible contributions of both the ulamas and the professionals to not only the party but also the nation at this point of Malaysia’s history. The electorate has spoken and what they look forward to from Pakatan Rakyat is plain for all to see.
How effectively the coalition is going to work in delivering their promises to the people depends on whether PAS is going to retain its successful formula and team or take a gamble on a new strategy that may not go down well with its partners.
The ulamas of PAS will do well to also bear in mind that the electorate always have the final say. Whether they choose to vote PR to power as the new Federal Government or vote for the devil they once knew (Umno/BN) depends on the message PAS sends out by way of the leadership they choose in their coming big pow-wow in June.
Pas should take note of the support the non-Malays gave to Tok Guru Nik Aziz and Dato Seri Nizar Jamaluddin in the recent Bukit Gantang Parliamentary elections, to get an unmistakable idea of the kind of religious and professional PAS leaders that the people will support.
There must be balance.
THINK.
