[Malaysia] Can PAS Really Change?

The New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur
11 June 2005

THE BIG PICTURE: Can Pas really change?
Munir Majid

CAN a leopard change its spots? Those who see the leadership makeover in Pas at the Islamic party’s 51st annual muktamar as nothing more than cosmetic may well ask this question.

On the other hand, those who are encouraged by the injection of non-ulama and younger blood into the top echelon of the party might see a sign that the party is becoming more moderate. Both sides, no doubt, can adduce evidence to back their position.

For the unbelieving (not necessarily disbelievers!), they can point to the fact that nothing has changed with respect to the party’s objectives and philosophy — the establishment of an Islamic state of a non-tolerant kind.

Indeed, they will point to statements by the so-called new, moderate breed — such as Mujahid Yusof Rawa — which betray a hardline approach, particularly towards those promoting an equal role for women in modern society.

He actually, in Harakah on May 28 as reported on the official Pas website, called for a campaign to menanam benci (plant the seeds of hate) against advocates of liberal Islam.

Such statements, the party’s intemperate and intolerant track record, are not easy to erase, certainly not in one fell swoop, as by some apparently more moderate guys appearing on the scene.

When statements such as the one by Mujahid continue to pour out at the same time, the doubters, without a doubt, have a point. Thoughts like what you see is what you get and one swallow does not a summer make, come to mind.

Nevertheless, it would be foolhardy not to note that some change is taking place. Those encouraged by and riding on this wind of change are not to be underestimated.

Anwar factor X

FORMER deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is apparently one such encouraged rider on this political horse. It has been suggested that he will be putting it about in Western capitals, especially in Washington, that Pas is reformed and a moderate alternative to the present Government. It is a tall order, but America has been known to be gullible. Certainly, he has already presented a picture of the current party in power as one that is corrupt and undemocratic.

Again, it would be short-sighted to ignore the reality that this representation gets a hearing and has a sympathetic audience abroad — and at home too, for example, in the columns of Malaysiakini or among some of the NGOs, not to mention the Opposition parties.

Anwar himself, black eye still showing or not, is seen in numerous quarters at home and abroad as a kind of Great White Hope, a moderate who has suffered at the hands of an evil system and yet is standing his corner, not quite a Nelson Mandela, but pointing that way.

There is thus a convergence in the trajectory of the two paths of moderation, the Islamic party’s and Anwar’s. The common objective, quite obviously, is political power, with the
first stop being achievement of the status of a credible opposition, alternative to the present government whose leading party Umno is now not open to Anwar’s political flight path.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Anwar has been invited to lead a revived Barisan Alternatif, even potentially Pas itself. The feigned reticence, but not outright rejection, of the offer is par for the course in politics, in this instance in a process that Umno cannot, and must not, ignore.

New rising star(s)

MEANWHILE, back at the homestead, the new, rising star in Pas is Husam Musa, who garnered the most number of votes at the muktamar, to become the party’s leading vice-president.

He is a member of the executive council in the Kelantan State Government who is, like Anwar, non-ulama and smooth. He presents Pas’ most moderate, acceptable face.

Reading an interview he gave last Thursday in Utusan Malaysia, one gets the feeling one’s read and seen it all before, a déjà vu. He sounds just like another Umno leader on the up. Modest, judicious and full of gratitude, he skilfully negotiates the questions, and comes out precisely with the moderation Pas is now trying to project.

Sure, the thought crosses one’s mind whether rising Pas stars like him, involved in the party for 23 years or more, would gladly make way for Anwar. But there is plenty of political space when you are not in power; it gets constricted only when you’ve got it.

In any case, at the present stage, Pas and Anwar both have options, even if they have a common objective of realising a more credible opposition and alternative to the ruling party in Malaysia. While Anwar can bring the Western capitals and non-Malays (and some Malays no doubt) to that political conclave, Pas proposes to widen its support in the Malay heartland and to bring a greater number of moderate, urban Malays as well to it. Either can go it alone.

Malay heartland

THIS is where the main political battle will be. Pas now talks about engagement, being relevant, and taking on issues in a way that recognises Malaysia’s multi-racial reality.

The embrace of multi-racialism has received short shrift from the DAP, even if MCA and Gerakan have not come out with an official response.

The DAP point that the non- Malays are not going to have anything to do with Pas so long as it has this objective of creating an Islamic state is apposite. However, when Pas talks about the multi-racial reality, it should not be assumed that its only, even primary, target audience is the non-Malays. Pas is after the moderate Malays.

Husam, in his interview, talks about becoming parti yang utama (leading or principal party). Question: Leading among whom? Surely, Pas is not so audacious as to think it could become leading among both the Malays and non-Malays — which even Umno is not.

So the principal battle is over Malay hearts and minds. More than anything else, the changes in Pas spell a profound recognition of the importance of the art of political spin. The party will be coming at Umno and at the Malays in clever and attractive ways and packages.

Whether or not Pas is capable of espousing its new-found moderation with disciplined consistency, there is no gainsaying Umno must be alert and have its wits about.

Political spin is like market positioning and an advertising campaign to follow it. Umno cannot allow Pas to call the shots and be seen to be only reacting.

Umno must have its own strategy of positioning and selling. Umno must not get effete. Incumbency can breed an assumption that it is a known quantity. Nowadays the good track record argument can only go so far. People are more cynical, even of track records, which will be more closely scrutinised.

People will want to know what you have in store for the future, not just the bread and butter issues, but also rights, freedoms and a more open political system.

Umno strategists should, on the one hand, monitor closely this Pas flight path of political moderation, and expose inconsistencies and fallacies. On the other, they should work on the party’s reform and renewal programme for the Malaysia of the future, including internal reform to rid the party of political corruption — a more profound description of the phenomenon that is so casually termed as "money politics".

The campaign for the next general election has begun.