The recently concluded annual general assembly of the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) has sprung some surprises for many observers of Malaysian politics.

Contrary to earlier assumption that the party elections would result in an onslaught against the reformist group (professionals) by the principalist group (ulama), the polls have maintained the current balance of puritans and reformists in the top echelon of the party’s leadership.

Most importantly, the results showed the political sophistication of PAS members in electing a team that would firmly keep them on course to form the next Malaysian government, while maintaining the party’s commitment to its ideology and goals.

The mix of professionals and ulama in the leadership’s line-up reflected an attempt by PAS members to reconcile the party’s founding principles as an Islamist movement and the realities of politics in a multi-religious and pluralistic society.

BATTLE LINES

The battle lines were drawn early in the race. The reformists-principalists divide is often referred to as professionals-ulama by mainstream media. This characterisation does little to explain the actual differences between the two groups.

The principalists seek to return to PAS’ original goals of implementing Islamic laws, including the much-dreaded Islamic criminal law (hudud).

In this regard, the principalists feel the need to reconfigure PAS’ position within the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition.

Many among them feel that PAS is playing second fiddle to the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP), and want a more equal role for PAS.

On the other hand, the reformists are seeking to maintain the status quo. They have argued that the party’s strategies of softening its Islamist image, outreach to non-Muslims and political alliance with its PR partners have ensured PAS’ successes in the 2008 and 2013 elections.

Expectations that the principalists in PAS would triumph over the reformists quickly fizzled when Mr Suhaizat Kaiat, largely seen as aligned to the reformist group, won the contest for head of Pemuda PAS (PAS Youth).

Given the fact that the youth wing is the bastion of the principalists, this result came as a huge setback for them. This was a prelude to the more disappointing loss of Mr Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, Kelantan’s Deputy Menteri Besar, in the deputy president race to incumbent Mohamad Sabu.

CONSOLATION PRIZE

The majority of the PAS Central Committee members voted in were also from the reformist group. A number of PAS figures who were viciously degraded by pro-ulama supporters as being liberal and lax Muslims — such as Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Dr Hatta Ramli and Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa — were all re-elected.

This shows that PAS members have little penchant for the ruthless campaigning style employed by the principalists’ supporters aimed at discrediting the reformists.

However, the party polls did not see the complete defeat of the principalists. Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, a key member of the principalist group, was voted as party Vice-President. Similarly, virtually all members of the PAS Youth Central Committee were from the principalist group. Both the ulama and women’s wings of the party remain firmly in the hands of the principalists.

The biggest consolation prize for the principalist was the fact that several young ulama in the group — such as Mr Idris Ahmed, Mr Nasrudin Hassan and Mr Nik Abduh Nik Aziz — were voted into the PAS Central Committee. The fact that all these figures are young means that they are likely to play an important role in determining the party’s future direction.

SHAPING PARTY’S FUTURE

While this party elections delivered several setbacks to the principalist group, this does not spell the end of its influence in PAS. The results, in fact, point to the fact that the ulama are firmly placed to continue driving the future direction of the party.

Party insiders have noted that this contest has exposed the relatively unknown Nik Amar to the PAS’ grassroots nationally.

This will place him to be a leading contender to be the next mursyidul am (spiritual leader).

Given the fact that Mr Nik Aziz Nik Mat, the current mursyidul am, and his deputy Harun Din are both not in the best of health, Mr Nik Mohd Amar is likely to assume the most senior position in the PAS hierarchy.

The appointment of the young ulama in the Central Committee, such as Mr Idris Ahmad and Mr Nik Abduh, will also place them in a better position to make bids for more senior posts come the next party elections in 2015.

Most importantly, the principalists will continue to be in firm control of the PAS Shura Council, the party’s top legislative body. It can thus be argued that the principalists are in an excellent position to shape the future of PAS.

COALITION POLITICS

From the onset, the contest between the two groups in PAS was never about whether the party should leave PR, as portrayed by many observers.

The notion that the principalists are seeking to leave the opposition coalition and join the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) is inaccurate. Principalists, like the party’s deputy spiritual head Dr Harun Din, have stated their unequivocal rejection of UMNO’s politics and have even argued that it is sinful for PAS to work with UMNO.

As mentioned earlier, the principalists were discontented with PAS’ downplaying of its ideological goals. Given the fact that the principalists are in key positions, it is likely that the party will start making more demands on PR to allow PAS to continue advocating for the implementation of Islamic laws.

The first test is likely to be the recent plan by PAS in Kelantan to implement hudud laws in the state. It is likely that the principalists will demand that PAS remains resolute in its plans, regardless of the stances taken by its partners in PR.

The future direction of PAS will thus be determined by how well the different groups within the party arrive at political consensus, especially in its working relationship with PR.