Analysts whom CNA spoke to agreed that PAS will continue to rely on its partner Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition to further its ambitions of governing Malaysia.
This is because some Malaysians still do not have confidence in PAS at the national level, while Bersatu leaders have had relatively more experience in the federal government, political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya said.
For instance, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin is a former prime minister while the party’s deputy president Hamzah Zainudin has held various ministerial positions in past administrations, including that of home minister.
Awang Azman said that PAS’ lack of leadership renewal could create a perception that the party is closely guarded by several “elites” and is not open to differences in opinion.
“The absence of leadership contests at the highest level could be seen as a lack of room for criticism or new leadership to emerge,” he said, adding that it weakens the party’s ability to attract youths or promote talent.
“The ability to win without contest makes it easier for old leaders to remain in power, stunting natural leadership succession.”
“STRATEGIC” SANUSI
Still, Sanusi’s decision to withdraw from the internal polls could be attributed to how he wants to continue playing an important role as PAS election director ahead of the Sabah state election in the coming months and the 16th General Election (GE16), Awang Azman said.
An election director steers the party’s electoral campaigns, setting strategies and seat targets as well as coordinating election machinery and public messaging.
This is the third time that Sanusi has refused the vice-president post – he did the same in the 2023 and 2021 internal elections – despite being eligible after nominations from several PAS divisions.
In July, he said he was not ready to take up the vice-president post, and that he had no issues remaining in the party’s second-tier leadership if there were more suitable and capable candidates for the role, Malaysia’s Berita Harian reported.
“This year, I’ll consider whether it’s necessary (to stand for the post). If there’s someone better and more qualified, I’ll campaign for him,” he was quoted as saying.
“PAS isn’t like other parties. We don’t scramble for posts to the point of quitting ministerial positions.”
The Kedah chief minister was taking a swipe at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), which held its own internal polls in May that saw two leaders quit as federal ministers after losing their party positions.
Read the full article here
