[Malaysia] Dr M: PAS Remain Frozen?

Mahathir says PAS still 'frozen' despite reform plans
Jun 8, 05 Malaysiakini

Former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad today dismissed the opposition Islamic party's recent leadership revamp and other plans for reform, saying it remained "frozen".

PAS last week ushered in a new guard to make itself more attractive to Malaysia's non-Muslim communities after a humiliating election defeat in the 2004 general elections.

The new leadership of young, moderate figures have criticised the old regime of fundamentalist clerics for alienating voters, but Mahathir said there were no real changes despite their rise to power.

"They may be young but it is still frozen thinking," he told reporters.

As part of the party's reforms, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has also called for former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim to lead the opposition in an attempt to dislodge the ruling coalition led by Umno.

'Black eye' issue

Anwar was heir apparent to Mahathir before being sacked in 1998 and jailed on corruption and sodomy charges which he said were cooked up to prevent him challenging Mahathir for the premiership.

"It's up to them. There will be some benefits and there will be some downside to it," Mahathir said of the proposed alliance.

Mahathir added that times had changed since PAS won a series of parliamentary seats in the 1999 general election by riding on anti-Umno sentiment over Anwar's sacking.

"There's no more issue of the black eye," he said, referring to a notorious eye injury inflicted on Anwar by police during his arrest in 1998, which outraged Malaysians.

"I'm not there so they can't accuse me of being a dictator, they can't put me on the chopping block," he said.

- AFP