By Farish A Noor
This week will witness the fifty-fifth General Assembly of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), that has been on the political landscape of Malaysia since 1951, though its actual historical presence in Malaysia dates back even further, to the country’s first Islamic party Hizbul Muslimin, in 1948. Malaysia-watchers and analysts are looking very closely at PAS today, and there has been ample speculation about the fate and future of key PAS ideologues and leaders, notably the representatives of the two camps in the party otherwise known as the conservatives and progressives.
Distinctions such as ‘conservatives’ and ‘progressives’ are not very useful in cases such as these however, for they tell us little about the goings-on in PAS and they lend the mistaken impression that the differences within the party can be essentially reduced to such simple binary opposites. Needless to say PAS’s opponents are likewise tempted to use such dichotomies in their own lame efforts to divide and weaken the party, and such divisive tactics are long familiar to those who have studied Malaysian politics over the past half a century or so…
The fact is that PAS is an infinitely more complex party that outsiders may think, and that its complexities run deep into its history. In the 1950s PAS was seen and cast as a Leftist-Islamist party while it was under the leadership of Dr Burhanuddin al-Helmy and Zulkiflee Mohammad; and the party’s concerns were directed towards the national liberation struggle against colonialism and all forms of neo-imperialism in Asia and Africa. In the 1970s PAS transformed itself to an ethno-nationalist party during its brief courtship with the ruling UMNO party. Since the 1980s the party has become one of the most vocal and visible Islamist parties in Asia and the Muslim world, standing on par with the Jama’at-e Islami of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh on the one hand and the Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan’ul Muslimin) of the Arab world on the other.
Despite the rise in its profile and its growing standing in the arena of Malaysian politics, PAS has remained a Malaysian party that has sought to gain power on the stage of Malaysian politics. Following the elections of march 2008 when the opposition alliance broke the two-thirds majority of the ruling National Front coalition, PAS is now poised to become a national party with national aspirations.
Which brings us to the question of what the Malaysian nation is today, and whether PAS can speak on behalf of the new Malaysia that is more complex than ever.
Regardless of whether the leaders of PAS describe themselves as moderate, liberal, progressive or conservative, the fact is that Malaysia and the Malaysian nation they hope to lead and represent is far more complex than even their own party. PAS and whoever leads the party, must come to realize this by now and must have the political will to deal with the complexities of Malaysia in a rational and objective manner. The days when it was assumed that all Malay-Muslims were simple pious Muslims are over: In the urban industrialized zones of West Malaysia, we have seen the proliferation of a myriad of new social constituencies that defy all the stereotypes of the nation thus far. Malaysia is now a country where Malaysian of all walks of life, ethnic and religious background, gender orientation etc are coming to the fore to demand their share in the politics of representation. I am personally acquainted with a number of Gay Muslims who have openly and privately declared their support for the Islamic party, but can the Islamic party they support also show them the same level of support, sympathy and understanding?
PAS needs to understand that to be a national party with national aspirations means having to develop an inclusive political rhetoric and platform that reflects the multifarious character of the complex Malaysia we see around us today. This is what all political parties need to do, be they Islamist, Socialist, Liberal or Conservative anyway. Failure to do so would mean ignoring the realities on the ground to their peril and at their own long-term political expense.
Skeptics have claimed that PAS can never succeed in re-inventing itself ever since the 1980s, when it adopted the mould of being a politically Islamist party similar to its counterparts in the Arab world and South Asia. But the historian would remind us that political parties, like nations and communities, are abstract collections of individual subjectivities that merge and melt and reconstitute themselves all the time. PAS was always a dynamic party that dealt with the realities of the day, from the realities of colonialism in Malaya to the rise of authoritarian politics in the 1980s. Today, PAS has seen and felt the goodwill of millions of non-Malay and non-Muslim Malaysians who have given the party a shot at becoming part of the new government of Malaysia, should the opposition parties take over sooner than later. PAS has also benefitted from the goodwill of millions of moderate liberal Muslims who are prepared to give the Islamic party a chance to demonstrate its commitment to a new politics of accountability and transparency.
Thus for the sake of those Malaysians who are prepared to give PAS a chance, the party now has to set its sights on the biggest prize of all, to become a national party that reflects the pluralism of Malaysian society. The vote swing that took place in march 2008 was not an endorsement for an Islamic state, or moral policing, or a theocracy under the thumb of a bunch of Ayatollahs. It was a sign that PAS’s time has come, and that the party should delve back to its complex past to recover a means to becoming a modern Islamic party that can finally be a Malaysian party as well.
If PAS does not move forward..they are digging their own graves
Everyone can see PAS have religious race fanatics …but number are getting smaller.
Nizar and Hussam are best hopes to bring PAS forward.
Hussam needs to be more aggressive…out spoken..and more responsible like…..as he is very popular man amongst PAS members.
He should dare to speak out the weakness of PAS …that Malaysian can see.
pas is an aberration. an anachronism. a thing of the past. for muslims to move forward their approach must be all inclusive. it cannot be ‘they’ against ‘us’ approach. muslims in malaysia cannot cannot hope to live harmoniously and in peace in the long run by refusing to acknowledge there are non-muslims in their midst or by treating non-muslims as temporary citizens or transients undeserving of equal rights and equal opportunities.
they must not seek to impose their values on others but instead share their values which are universal
Trading racial discrimination for religious discrimination…. errrrr, is this a better deal?
\It was a sign that PAS’s time has come, and that the party should delve back to its complex past to recover a means to becoming a modern Islamic party that can finally be a Malaysian party as well.\
there’s nothing in the past to \delve back\ to or to \recover a means\ rather to look forward to a new begining. pas would be missing a great opportunity.
What about UMNO….TomThumb?
Sorry, off-topic
///Altantuya issue ‘haunts’ Najib in China
Jun 4, 09 7:13pm
The issue of slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu continues to haunt Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, even in China.MORE
‘I had nothing to do with it’
Jokes about ‘two star hotel’ ///– Malaysiakini
Najib said that it would have been a damn insult to his girlfriend to stay in a two-star hotel. To be his girlfriend, she must have stayed in a 5-star, or 6-star hotel. So the class of the hotel where the women stayed decides whether she was Najib’s girlfriend or not. The statement implies that najib is so rich that hotel bill means nothing, and why should his girlfriend stay in a cheap hotel when money was no object?
But we sometimes see rich people pretending to be poor and vice versa.
///Thus for the sake of those Malaysians who are prepared to give PAS a chance, the party now has to set its sights on the biggest prize of all, to become a national party that reflects the pluralism of Malaysian society./// Farish Noor
Non-Malays used to think that PAS championed Ketuanan Melayu and would make this place an Islamic state. With a better understanding that Islamic religion abhors inequality, which included NEP in the way UMNO implemented them, non-Malays are coming around to hope that PAS members would adhere to the teaching of Islam. They hope further that PAS would allow non-Muslims to freely practise their own religions. They have known that UMNO could not be trusted since the advent of NEP, but they hoped that leaders after TDM would change. They would now believe that leopards might change their spots before UMNO ever would.
PAS has however the job to convince the Malays that UMNO agenda are for UMNOputras.
As long as PAS keeps the sharia law and the civil law far apart,and less islamist’s rhetoric about making the country an Islamic state,I ‘m happy about the party and it’s top leaders. Frankly speaking PAS is more sincere in their talk and far more less corrupt than Umno leaders.I think in general most non-malays are happy with PAS than with Umno. I agreed with LOH that PAS must convince the malays to support them to help PR to defeat Umno/Bn in the 13th GE.
najib did not murder that girl. only a fool would think so.
Do not play with words TonThumb.
No one accused Najib murdered the girl himself.
He is the main suspect by Malaysians.
Naturally one needs photograph..documents…witnesses to prove that.
Why don’t he sue RPK instead of making life difficult for him?
By the way….Altantuya came with a girl companion to talk about her commission.
She is not after sex with Najib or Baginda.
Najib’s joke that if she is her girlfriend…..it will be an insult to put her in a 2 star hotel…is not convincing.
Why should Najib care about her…when he knows she was in Malaysia talking money….not sex.
Have you ever hear Najib feeling so shameful…so angry..over a foreigner …first of its kind..being C4ed ?
Najib could even predict the outcome of the court case….one year ahead of judgment made….his sms.to Baginda…lost Immigration records…Bala and few more.
Are these not evidences strong enough to hurl him to court for questioning?
UMNO will go all out to protect him.
You mean the two soldiers have all the power to do all these thing to hide evidences?
Anyway…Najib sworn by the Koran seems to prove he is innocent.
That’s UMNO government for Malaysians.
They re above the law and Allah.
then at least 80% of the rakyat are fools. The remaining are those without brains..
If there ‘s no truth that najib murder that girl,then why tom thumb are you so keen to defend him.It’s your conscience that ‘s pricking you,isn’t it ?.
Race is not an issue in true Islam.
With strong support for PAS from non Malays and better understanding, trust and relationship between the various races and religions…..BN days in government are numbered.
Monsterball,
so much allegation from you ,why don’t u come out with solid evidence otherwise shut ur mouth and enjoy ur golden age….
There is always a difference between ‘did not do something’ and ‘did not have anything to do with something’
Say Boss. Saw you at the Pas Muktamar this morning.
Could you please dress a bit more formally? A white, untucked-in, short sleeved shirt is just not on for the occasion. See how the others came in formal Malay dress and suits? I am sure your hosts appreciated your presence but hey, you gottta show them some courtesy OK?
Sorry, boss.
Say, you also need to drink more herbal soup or something. You look very tired man. Must be too many ceramahs, PKFZs, OTKs, polic harassments and Perak.
Take care of your health man. Maybe you need a good traditional Malay urut. Ask your friends.
Tonberry Says:
Yesterday at 02: 39.03
TomThumb Says:
najib did not murder that girl. only a fool would think so
then at least 80% of the rakyat are fools. The remaining are those without brains..”
i did not say najib had nothing to do with her murder. in any case i rather be with that one person who is right than be with the rest who are wrong. truth has nothing to do with numbers.
frankyapp Says:
Yesterday at 03: 10.54
If there ’s no truth that najib murder that girl,then why tom thumb are you so keen to defend him.”
asked and answered.
monsterball Says:
Yesterday at 02: 06.20
Do not play with words TonThumb.
No one accused Najib murdered the girl himself.”
There is Tonberry and then there is frankyapp – for a start.
TomThumb.remember president Bill cliton said once “I did not have sex with that woman ” but when under trial he admitted by saying ” In deed I did have sex with this woman “.Najib now says ” he did not meet that woman “.If under oath and trial,I’m pretty sure he would say” In deed I did meet that woman “Unlike in America,Malaysia PM is so powerful,no one dares to investigate him for the truth.Can you prove that he’s innocent ?.
then he’s caught lying under oath. since when lying means the same as having committed a murder?
Can you prove that he’s innocent ? frankyapp
if all of us have to prove our innocence each time we are accused of a crime, then there will not be enough jails to hold us.
On 6-6-09 at 23: 10.03, TomThumb said:
if all of us have to prove our innocence each time we are accused of a crime, then there will not be enough jails to hold us.
True.
Presumed innocent until proven guilty.
But then, not all of us are high profile political leaders and heads of government…
Well TomThumb, you can’t prove he’s innocent and yet you say he did not murder that girl.Are you nuts,beating around the bush.
PAS is steadily winning the hearts and mind of the people at large. If the resilient Chinese can survive under communist rule as well as UMNO rule, they will excel under PAS rule, or any other kind of rule.