PERTELAGAHAN PAS DENGAN SEKUTUNYA MEMBERI PELUANG CERAH KEPADA UMNO DAN BN

Dengan komitmen semula ke atas konsep Negara Berkebajikan yang diperkenalkan oleh PAS sebelum Pilihanraya Umum 2008, kita boleh lihat betapa pimpinan PAS sebenarnya tidak sepakat dan sering memutar kenyataan masing-masing demi menjaga hati PKR dan DAP. 

Perbezaan pendapat antara golongan profesional yang lebih liberal di dalam PAS bersama golongan ulama yang konservatif sudah lama menggoncang kesatuan PAS bersama rakan-rakan kongsi mereka dalam Pakatan Rakyat.

Bukan setakat itu sahaja, perbezaan pendapat antara pimpinan dengan akar umbi PAS juga sering terdedah sejak kebelakangan ini apabila isu murtad dan hudud mula timbul menjelang PRU 13 nanti.

Apa yang pasti, pertelagahan dalaman yang melanda PAS ini sudah pastinya akan mengurangkan sokongan terhadap PAS dalam PRU13 nanti dan berpotensi untuk mengembalikan semula sejumlah undi Melayu kepada UMNO dan Barisan Nasional.

Cetusan pendapat dari sebuah Singapore Straits Times
email dari pembaca blog

PAS COMMITTED TO RELIGIOUS AGENDA, PAKATAN ALLIANCE 

STRAITS TIMES 2012-11-17 00:59:37 CAROLYN HONG MALAYSIA BUREAU CHIEF  

KOTA BARU (Kelantan) - Opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) president Abdul Hadi Awang has launched a stout defence of the party's Islamic credentials that have come under challenge, saying its current focus on a "benevolent state" was not a deviation from its religious agenda.

This philosophy is, in fact, in line with Islam, which requires followers to act with fairness and justice, he added.

PAS adopted the philosophy of Negara Berkebajikan, which means benevolent state in Malay, just before the 2008 general election, when it joined forces with Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) to form Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Datuk Seri Hadi also reiterated PAS' commitment to the PR, dispelling speculation that the party might ditch the opposition alliance after it was attacked for purportedly shelving its Islamic agenda under pressure from its political partners.

This perception has already caused a split in the party between the liberal and conservative membership, and also cost it some support as the Malay vote swung to its rival Umno over the last few years. PAS is expected to face a tough fight in the next election, which must be called by April.

"Many of our opponents and observers misunderstood it to the extent of making open statements accusing PAS of deviating from the goal of struggling to uphold Islam," Mr Hadi said in a two-hour speech to the 1,100 delegates at the party's annual convention. "They made these assumptions because they did not understand the language of the Quran and were influenced by the foreign term 'welfare state', which conveys a narrow meaning of welfare."

He added that the concept of a benevolent state encompasses justice and fairness, both of which are emphasised in Islam.

PAS' economic policies, he said, would be fairer than those of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which has concentrated wealth in the hands of a few.

He said PAS' philosophy rejects discriminatory policies, cronyism, monopolies and cartels.

"Therefore, administrating national wealth, managing the country's finances wisely, managing the economy and growing wealth are part of the key matters which must be preserved and advanced by a benevolent nation," he said.

Mr Hadi also pointed out that the PAS administration in Kelantan and Kedah - as in Terengganu previously - had implemented this concept by abolishing taxes such as road tolls and land tax that burdened the people.

He said PAS was committed to the PR and has agreed to promote their common interests and not focus on their differences.

The three parties, he said, have agreed to uphold Islam as the religion of Malaysia, recognise the special position of the bumiputera, promote the Malay language and defend the role of a constitutional monarchy.

The rights of the minority communities will also be protected.

"PAS is ready to govern Malaysia together with its allies in Pakatan Rakyat, fulfilling its responsibility and trust," Mr Hadi said.

Asked later by reporters about the touchy issue of hudud - the Islamic law that prescribes punishments like the amputation of limbs for theft - which is opposed by the DAP, he said they have already agreed to disagree.

PAS retains its hudud agenda but has taken the stand that the implementation must comply with Malaysia's Constitution.

While the split between PAS' liberal and conservative factions is a longstanding one, it has grown more stark in recent months after its former deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa began to attack the party for apparently abandoning its Islamic agenda.

The PAS youth wing, at its congress on Thursday, complained that the party's newspaper Harakah appeared to focus more on the PR agenda and the speeches of its leaders than on the Islamist party's positions.

The party's ulama or religious scholars wing chief Harun Taib reiterated that the hudud should remain a key part of PAS' agenda.

Mr Hadi yesterday said these comments would be taken into consideration.

The issue, however, is not expected to affect the party's formidable election machinery in the next general election, as PAS does not have a tradition of internal sabotage.PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayob said the party had long been seen by outsiders as being divided between the ulamas and professionals, but this has never been a real issue for the party itself.