NOV 9 — The two factions challenged each other at the PAS political seminar.
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was called the “Pak Lah” of PAS (Pak Lah versi PAS) during the seminar. We understood it tacitly.
Indeed, compared to the late PAS president Datuk Fadzil Noor, Hadi's performance has been... oh, it should be no performance at all.
Hadi-led Terengganu PAS lost the state regime and even the political tsunami was unable to help him.
He did not have a strong stand on whether to keep PAS in Pakatan Rakyat or join Umno and his responses were self-contradictory. Even if he had repeatedly made commitments, the people would not believe him.
He was unable to restrain the conservative or speculation group, including Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali, allowing them to do as they wished, triggering disturbances.
PAS's support has been declining and according to research by Universiti Malaya media department lecturer Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah, only about 10 per cent of the younger generation (21-30 years old) are supporting PAS now.
PAS has lost its direction and the cohesion consolidated in the past has been gradually weakened.
If the situation continues, the party may end up with two possibilities: completely defeated by Umno or waiting for Umno to summon it to surrender.
Therefore, party spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat could no longer tolerate it and convened the political seminar, trying to awaken Hadi.
Hadi did not understand well the party's problems and it seemed that he did not understand well his own problems, too.
He could only say based on the simplest logic: “How can we sack the captain when we have not yet even completed the first half?”
Alas, he does not even know the basic rules of football. The first thing to do when the captain is found to be not performing well during a game is to replace him. Otherwise, he will drag the whole team down.
Unfortunately, PAS members were unwilling to express such a will during the seminar.
Of course, supporters of Nik Aziz lambasted those in power during the seminar and they were countered by Hadi's supporters.
The conservative group, the ulama, those who supported the unity government plan and those who were oppose to Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim have grouped together and backed Hadi, enabling him to hold the president’s position for at least another few years.
Or, until the party collapses.
This time, the two factions fought slightly. Nik Aziz and his supporters again had Hadi's guarantee that he will not cooperate with Umno. At least they did not return empty-handed. However, it was not a great achievement.
Hadi, deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali are still the core power and the power structure remains unchanged.
To be fair, Hadi is not bad. The key is, he is an ulama more than a political leader.
He has sealed himself in the political ecology of the past and is now hovering in the restraints of conservative religion and Malay thought. He has failed to transcend and launch a breakthrough.
Even the political turmoil was unable to take him to another peak. Moreover, his vision has been limited as he can be easily influenced by his trusted followers.
“Pak Lah” of PAS fits him quite well indeed.
The problem is, PAS’s rival is no longer Pak Lah (former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), but Najib, who is shrewd and competent.
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