Technocrats seen as mere ‘accessories' in PAS, says analyst
PETALING JAYA : An analyst expects professionals in PAS to face a tough road to be elected to the party's top leadership, as its structure stresses the importance of clerical leadership as the foundation of its struggle.
Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said PAS delegates have also consistently supported candidates who have higher Islamic education and are close to the party's ulama leadership.
Hisommudin said the professionals and technocrats in PAS are perceived more as 'accessories' that complement the party, especially in terms of management, strategies and administration.
'They may be able to fill the posts of deputy president, vice-president or members of the central leadership, but not as the party's No 1,' he told FMT.
Hisommudin said this does not mean that professionals have no place in PAS's top leadership, but that the trust in them to lead the party still comes with conditions.
He said PAS's 'DNA' will not change if a technocrat were to helm the party, as the central leadership is still subject to the Syura Council, its highest decision-making body composed of religious scholars.
'The structure and policies of the party are still controlled by the dominant ulama institution. What might change is the party's approach or management style, but not its fundamental struggles,' he said.
On Saturday, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said professionals could lead the party as long as their decisions are guided by Islamic principles, or 'syarak'.
Commenting on calls to retain ulama leadership should PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang step down at the party elections in September, Tuan Ibrahim said ulama leadership has long been a tradition in the party.
Hisommudin said the clash between the ulama and technocrat factions in PAS is not a new occurrence, but has become more apparent now that certain professional leaders are growing in prominence.
He said pushing technocrats to the fore is not the key to PAS winning non-Malay support, but the current political narrative.
'PAS's history shows that it has been able to obtain the support of the non-Malays despite being led by the ulama faction, for example, when it worked with PKR and DAP under the Pakatan Rakyat coalition during the 2008 and 2013 general elections,' he said.
However, Akademi Nusantara's Azmi Hassan said professionals must be given more room and opportunities in the PAS leadership to reflect progressive and modern Islam.
He believed that the policies and decisions made by such leaders would then attract non-Muslim voters to support the party.
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