Hadi's successor to remain a scholar or a professional?

The 69th Pas Annual Muktamar which is taking place this month would be quite interesting to witness, after party secretary Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan announced that there would be no contest for the top five posts, in conjunction with the party's election later.

The Kota Bharu Member of Parliament (MP) explained that when the nomination period was opened, no Pas leader was interested to compete for the main seats in conjunction with the annual event.

Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was the only exception, but had later withdrawn his nomination to grab the vice president post while another incumbent vice president Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah admitted that a million Pas grassroots had gravitated towards maintaining the existing leadership.

The decision had however drawn strong criticism from political observers as well as their opponents especially Umno.

Pas' previous criticism of Umno representatives decision to approve a no-contest motion for the party president and deputy president posts in this year's Umno General Assembly 2023 had essentially backfired.

There had even been a number of Umno leaders questioning Abdul Hadi's position as he had held the party's main post for too long, a total of 21 years, and seems to be taking advantage of Pas grassroots approach to remain in power.

However, the allegation was rejected by Parit Buntar Member of Parliament, Misbahul Munir Masduki who insisted that Pas grassroots had never been fanatical towards any party leaders, that they were willing to suggest for the party's top post to remain uncontested, unlike Umno.

"Pas existing leadership has proven to bring success to the party in the 15th General Election (GE15) and state elections unlike Umno which still wanted to retain the president when the party had lost badly in GE15.

"So which party's grassroots are actually more fanatical towards its leaders? With Pas for the first time having the largest number of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat after GE15, of course Pas members want to maintain the continuity of excellence of the existing leadership," he said

Ahead of the mukatmar, another hotly debated topic among Pas grassroots and local political observers is who is the most qualified in the party leadership to replace Hadi.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)political analystProfessor Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian predicted that the Marang MP will remain in the party's top post to the end of his life, but also suggested that Pas in reality needs to prepare a transition plan for the party leadership from now.

"I think that among other factors why there is no contest for the top five posts in Pas this year is because it seems like an indirect signal that Abdul Hadi had approved a transition plan for the party leadership with deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man seen as the best replacement," he told Sinar Premium.

Sivamurugan's view is in line with another Central Pas Committee member Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marsuki,who agreed that Tuan Ibrahim is the most suitable candidate to replace Hadi.

Zuhdi believed that the former Water and Natural Resources Minister had a calmness about him and leadership qualities to hold the important position despite not having reached the level of a spiritual leader as Hadi and former Mursyidul Am, the late Tan Sri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

However, Zuhdi did not rule out the possibility that the era of appointing Pas top post among spiritual leaders would come to its end and that it is not impossible that a professional leader would be appointed as the party president in the future.

"In the party's constitution, there is no specific line that classifies the specific characteristics for a party president must be appointed among spiritual scholars. As long as the leader fulfills the attributes emphasised by the Syura Council such as not being a 'fasiq' (sinner) and is not in the habit of committing major sins anyone from the religious or professional stream can be appointed.

"However, conventionally, Pas presidents usually hail among leaders who from the religious stream.

"Anyways, if in the future, a professional leader is appointed as president, the new Pas leadership will have to implement decisions collectively and involve all levels of leadership," he said.

For Central Pas Assabiqun Conference chairman Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed, it is mandatory for the future leader to continue the leadership by scholars who dominate religion, politics, state administration and law.

While wishing Hadi, 75, a long life, Mahfodz urged the party's leadership to take advantage of the former World Muslim Scholars Union vice chairman experience by immediately learning to understand the agenda of his struggles.

"Despite Tuan Guru Haji Hadi being insulted as power-mad as he continues to be party president, many do not know that in Pas, position is considered a trust and not a reward.

"The fact is during Perikatan Nasional stint as the government, I understood that Tuan Guru refused to become a minister despite being offered by the Prime Minister then, who was Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

"He also never aspired to become Prime Minister. For Tuan Guru, Pas does not want a position in the government, but would like to ensure that the party's principles can be implemented in the government. In this chapter, I believe that Pas has to learn from DAP which was in the Pakatan Harapan 1.0 Government and the Unity Government today," he said.

Misbahul also added that throughout the party's history, there have been no problems in finding a credible successor to its president and Mursyidul Am, (spiritual leader) although many had questioned which candidate might be capable of filling in such an important role.

List of Pas Presidents

1. Ahmad Fuad Hassan (1951 - 1953)

2. Dr Abbas Ilias (Acting) (1953 - 1956)

3. Dr Burhanuddin Mohd Noor (Al-Helmi) (1956 - 1969)

4. Tan Sri Mohd Asri Haji Muda (1969 - 1982)

5. Tuan Guru Haji Yusuf Rawa (1982 - 1989)

6. Datuk Haji Fadzil Mohd Noor (1989 - 2002)

7. Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang (2002 - present)

List of Pas Mursyidul (spiritual leader)

1. Tuan Guru Haji Yusuf Rawa (1987 - 1994)

2. The late Tan Sri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (1994 - 2014)

3. The late Datuk Dr Haron Din (2015-2016)

4. Datuk Hashim Jasin (2016 - present)