Pas still stuck with PKR until final decision is made by Syura Council

It seems that Pas is still stuck in its political collaboration (tahaluf siyasi) with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) even though the delegates attending the 63rd Pas Muktamar (general assembly, which ended here today, have unanimously passed the motion to end the collaboration.

This is because the final decision will only be made after the Pas Ulama Syura Council discussed the matter at a meeting which is said to be held soon.

The issue of Pas' political collaboration with its allies in the opposition pact - DAP and PKR - had become one of the hot topics of debate since the party's 59th Mutktamar in 2013 as it was deemed non-beneficial to Pas.

Pas ended its political collaboration with DAP in 2015.

The motion to end the Pas-PKR collaboration is vital because it involves the future and political survival of Pas as it enters the 66th year of its establishment and being among the oldest political parties in the country.

Having followed the party''s development, Institute for Malaysian Political Analysis director Dr Kamarul Zaman Yusoff said it was clear that there was a breach of agreement and elements of betrayal in the collaboration which had put Pas at the losing end.

"Based on several incidents, it was clear that there are elements of betrayal in the collaboration. Yes, Pas Syura Council will make the final decision on the matter, but what will happen to Pas representatives in the Selangor state executive council? Will they stay or should they resign (as councillors)? he told Bernama when met after the closing of the three-day assembly here today.

Kamarul Zaman also anticipated that the issue might continue to persist, besides the fact that it should be tackled wisely as it also involved royal consent and the principles of Islam.

During the winding up of the debate, Pas Dewan Ulama secretary Datuk Dr Mohd Nik Zawawi Salleh called on all party members to accept and abide by the decision made by Pas Ulama Syura Council relating to the proposal to end the party's political collaboration with PKR.

"The decision may not be popular, or not as many have anticipated it would be, or the Ulama Syura Council president may use certain political approach to make it.

"...but once the decision is made about the collaboration with PKR and for a better future for our party, we all must abide by the decision and pledge our full support to our leadership without badmouthing about it. InsyaAllah, we will be fine," he said.

Despite not having a final decision on the collaboration yet, the three-day general assembly saw Pas as being fully prepared to move independently in facing the challenges at the 14th general election.

"We have faced and dealt with various possibilities before as our political history is longer than other parties. We were once alone, we have contested for only one seat in this state, or many seats in other state, we have faced two-cornered, three-cornered and even four-cornered fight...we have a very vast experience," Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was reported as saying.

Pas' survival also depends on the party leadership, which has retained the status quo in the party election at the 63rd Mustamar.

After Pas President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and his Deputy Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man were returned unopposed for their respective posts, the post of three vice presidents also saw the same faces retaining their seats.

The three incumbents, Bukit Gantang Member of Parliament Idris Ahmad, Kelantan deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah and Selangor Pas Commissioner Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad retained their posts for the 2017/2019 term.

Apart from Iskandar, the selection of two other Pas representatives from Selangor, namely Dr Halimah Ali and Salehin Mukhyi as Pas Central Working Committee members, was seen as an effort to ensure that the party would be able to retain its influence in the state.

"The decision to retain Iskandar as the vice-president, and Dr Halimah and Salehin as Pas Central Working Committee members is a mandate to empower the party to tackle the issue of tahalyuf siyasi and to expand power to win Selangor in the next general election," Kamarul Zaman added.

-- BERNAMA