Hadi may be given a hard time by delegates at this weekend’s muktamar.
Or will Hadi convince them of the need to foster relations with their ideological enemy Umno for the sake of Malay and Muslim unity?
These are among the major questions that will be answered at the Pas general assembly or muktamar in Ipoh this weekend.
It will begin with Nasharudin opening the Youth wing meeting tomorrow night. The Youth as well as the ulama (religious scholars) and muslimat (women) wings will convene their respective meeting on Thursday.
Hadi will open the three-day muktamar on Friday morning with his highly anticipated keynote address — and the party faithful are speculating and anticipating any clear references to the secret talks with the Prime Minister as well as the proposed unity talks with Umno.
A Pas insider said Hadi had initially planned to include the proposal for unity talks with its political enemy in his address but recent developments — mostly fierce criticism by grassroots members — called for some changes.
"The president will still have to address the issue. Most probably he will reiterate his most recent stand that there is no way for Pas to work together with Umno," said the insider.
Some leaders in Pas believe that despite the opposition Pakatan Rakyat's success in gaining four states in addition to Pas-controlled Kelantan and denying the Barisan Nasional's two-thirds parliamentary majority, their party does not play a major role in the coalition.
Some of them even argued that despite having a Pas menteri besar in Perak, the state exco is dominated by the DAP, which has a majority number of state seats. Although having a clear control of Kelantan and Kedah, these leaders are not satisfied at being sidelined in Penang, Perak and Selangor.
With Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's perceived liberal stance — promoting multiracial politics with emphasis on justice and fairness for all — some Pas leaders are worried that the Islamist party would have to sacrifice its Islamic state agenda.
So it seemed like a golden opportunity for them to flex their Islamist stance when Umno offered a coalition in several states including Perak and Selangor if they were willing to cross over. When the news broke out, the Pas grassroots — whose aim is to see the end of the BN — were absolutely livid.
For the grassroots, the secret discussions between their top leaders and Abdullah were already on the verge of betrayal and they will have a chance to air their views through the delegates at this muktamar.
The question is — how far would they go to chastise their top leadership, or it will just fizzle out during the debate, in the name of party unity?
Perhaps the timing is perfect for Hadi as the nation is watching the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign as a possible political comeback for its former MP Anwar. As long as the focus to bring Anwar back to Parliament — and to renew attacks on Umno and the BN — the muktamar may spend less time chiding the top leadership over the controversial covert meetings.
Perhaps some Pas delegates would like to see Hadi in the line of fire but party unity is expected to see the leaders closing ranks and living to fight another day.
The debates at the muktamar are also expected to touch on Muslim issues including the rowdy demonstration against the Bar Council forum on conversion to Islam last Saturday. Delegates are expected to insist the Bar and other organisations have no right to question Islam — although the Bar Council did no such thing — and will express support for such demonstrations, although some are expected to question the storming into the forum hall.
This topic will expand into a wider issue of Islam being allegedly marginalised; and that the BN's Islam Hadhari is expected to be blamed for confusing Muslims and non-Muslims alike over the misunderstanding of the religion.
Still the muktamar is expected to endorse the continued cooperation in Pakatan as many Pas leaders including grassroots members believe the end is near for the BN although many are also sceptical of Anwar's Sept 16 deadline to take over the federal government.
For them, the important thing is to prepare for the coming general election, either a snap poll or a proper one within the next two or three years. While delegates will insist that leadership must never abandon the dream of an Islamic state for Malaysia, they too are pragmatic enough to share the spoils of political war, as long as elements of Islam are included in the administration of the soon-to-be-formed federal government.
The pragmatism, while never admitted openly, is said to be the brainchild of vice-president Datuk Husam Musa, backed by spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, with the support of the party's young turks such as Dr Syed Azman Nawawi, Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar, Dr Hatta Ramli and Salahuddin Ayub.
While this does not imply a split within the top party ranks, at the moment the young turks are the ones having strong support from grassroots leaders and members, especially when revered ulama Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan menteri besar, is backing them.
The muktamar is also not just a political talk shop. The party headquarters are assisting organiser Perak Pas to provide some entertainment for delegates and guests with a concert by religious pop groups Far-East and Saff One on Thursday night, contrary to public opinion that they are against all forms of pleasure. The organisers even tried to get the participation of rock legend Amy Search but the singer had already confirmed a booking in Sabah.
Some 3,000 delegates from 175 divisions are expected to attend the muktamar at Ipoh's Indera Mulia Stadium. This is the first time the muktamar is being held in Perak.
-TMI
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