Will the rebirth of hardline PAS lead to a new voice for a progressive Islam?

Ever since PAS was birthed in 1951, the party has gone through different waves of leadership which has swung its ideologies from Malay nationalistic principles, to a puritanical brand of Islam, and then back to a more “mellow” and conciliatory stance.

But despite its membership into one of Malaysia’s most successful opposition pacts, the Pakatan Rakyat, in 2008, Pas has still largely been viewed with a cautious reticence by non-Muslims as well as the more moderate and liberal Muslims.

At the core of this voter apprehension lies the party’s persistent push for the implementation of hudud, or Islamic criminal law.

If once there was confusion around its ambitions, last week’s party election has served to send a clear message to Malaysian voters – the hardline Islamic party has been reborn, and is unapologetic about it.

Apart from tearing up its former allies in the opposition, the party’s new leadership line-up of exclusively fundamentalist clerics, or ulama, has already announced it is moving forward with full force to implement hudud in Kelantan.

The longer-term consequences of this party election will be closely watched – the opposition alliance will inevitably split-up, and there is a high likelihood of a union of sorts between Malaysia’s ruling party Umno, and Pas under its new leadership.

But the more interesting outcome of this election will be the yet-to-be-revealed next step for Pas’ “professionals” faction,  who were all but purged from the top spots after the party elections.

The ousted leaders, who have in the past openly called for a more inclusive and liberal party ideology, clearly have no future in the newly-radicalised Pas. In essence, their political future in the party is all but dead.

But out of the ashes may rise a new voice in the battle for a more progressive Islam to flourish in Malaysia.

Looking at the relatively substantial support that these liberal Islamists still enjoy, it is almost certain that retirement is not on the cards.

In fact, sources have hinted that the leaders are now already in the final stages of sealing their next political move with a new, or repackaged, multiracial political party.

If it takes form, Malaysians will soon have a political party helmed by a group of professional and moderate Islamic leaders.

The long-term success of this grouping, whatever form it takes, will remain to be seen, as historically, offshoot parties from PAS have not been known to have very long lifespans.

But the difference with this new party and other PAS splinter groups will be that they stand to enjoy the support of all Malaysians, regardless of religion, who have had enough of the threat of Islamic radicalisation.

PAS has proven to be a formidable force that seeks to defy its critics’ dismissals that it will ever only garner the support of the Malay heartlands.

This “victory” of its ulama faction has given those within the party a renewed confidence to push for the creation of an Islamic state, not only in Kelantan, but eventually in the entire Malaysia.

But our society has no room for extremists and hardliners who seek to hijack our Constitution for their own personal political gain.

In the wake of PAS’s return to extremism, some good may yet come out of the expunging of its moderates and liberals as this may have just created the best antithesis yet to the party’s fundamentalist stance.

And perhaps Malaysians will soon have another influential grouping to give voice to our call for a more moderate Islam; an Islam that befits the unique multiracial makeup of this nation. – June 14, 2015. 

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.