Najib PledgesTo Make Further Economic Reforms

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, fresh from a working trip abroad, has pledged to commit himself to making further economic reforms to strengthen Malaysia's investment appeal.

The prime minister said that on his visit to the United States, he briefed corporate leaders, fund managers and potential investors on Malaysia as a worthwhile investment destination.

"The feedback that I received from the financial community was that, while our "Malaysian story" is attractive, we could do more to draw global investors to our capital markets.

"I have taken this message on board and will commit to making further economic reforms to strengthen our investment appeal," he said in his blog, www.1malaysia.com.my.

After visiting the United States, he went to Trinidad and Tobago to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

In the United States, Najib had meetings with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Steve Forbes, president of Forbes Inc., and Gene Daley, president of Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions.

Najib said he was convinced that the forthcoming economic reforms would mark the beginning of a new chapter of the "Malaysian story", with economic relations between Malaysia and the US set to progress in a very constructive way.

"My stopover in New York and Washington DC, en route to the Commonwealth summit, was brief but fruitful," he said.

The prime minister said that in between these trips, he was very encouraged when he browsed through the responses to his Facebook page.

"My office and I will be looking into some programmes in due course to interact further with my newfound 'friends'," he said.

Before flying to the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, Najib attended the APEC summit in Singapore, where "I discussed potential free trade agreements (FTAs) in bilateral meetings with President Michelle Bachelet Jeria of Chile and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd".

"Closer to home, recent visits by President Hu Jintao of China and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia point to a brighter future in bilateral relations between our countries," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Death-row inmate's military service is relevant, justices say

Court faults lawyer for not presenting mitigating evidence

By Robert Barnes
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Supreme Court gave hope Monday to a Korean War veteran on Florida's death row, saying courts should take note of his battlefield bravery and likely post-traumatic stress in weighing whether he deserves to be executed for the murders he later committed.

In an unsigned opinion without dissent, the justices were strikingly sympathetic to George Porter, who shot his former girlfriend and her new boyfriend in 1986. The court faulted Porter's attorney for not detailing his military service to the jury considering whether he should receive the death penalty, and said lower courts should have recognized that such information could have swayed the outcome.

"Our nation has a long tradition of according leniency to veterans in recognition of their service, especially for those who fought on the front lines as Porter did," the justices wrote.

"Moreover, the relevance of Porter's extensive combat experience is not only that he served honorably under extreme hardship and gruesome conditions, but also that the jury might find mitigating the intense stress and mental and emotional toll that combat took on Porter."

The court said Porter, now 77, returned from Korea "a traumatized, changed man."

Like most death penalty cases that take more than 20 years to reach the Supreme Court, Porter's legal journey is complicated. He represented himself in the murder trial, and his standby counsel took over at the penalty phase.

But the lawyer said Porter was fatalistic and uncooperative, and he did not present to the jury potentially mitigating evidence about Porter's abusive childhood, his military service and the trauma it caused or a serious alcohol problem.

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Porter's death sentence. And even though a federal judge agreed with Porter when he took his appeals to that level, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit backed the Florida court.

The justices on Monday said the appeals court was wrong to defer to Florida courts. They said that the decision of Porter's counsel not to present more evidence to mitigate the crime "did not reflect reasonable professional judgment" and that the Florida Supreme Court's decision that it would not have made a difference was "unreasonable."

The court returned the case to the 11th Circuit, presumably for it to order a new sentencing. The court's order did not cast doubt on Porter's conviction.

The court was neither briefed nor heard arguments about the case, and it is unclear how far-reaching the opinion might be for others. It is one in a series of a death-penalty cases the justices have dealt with this term in which ineffective counsel has been alleged; in others, it has sided with the state against the accused.

But the court seemed to go out of its way in Porter's case to move beyond the issue of counsel to express the seriousness with which it views post-traumatic stress disorder.

In a footnote, it cited the testimony of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki that nearly a quarter of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seeking treatment at a VA medical facility had received PTSD diagnoses. In another, it noted that California and Minnesota had set up special sentencing proceedings for those who alleged their crimes were influenced by PTSD.

The case is Porter v. McCollum.

Zaid to lead Pakatan?

Rahmah Ghazali, Malaysiakini
Nov 5, 09
4:40pm

PKR strategist Tian Chua today dismissed a report suggesting that Pakatan Rakyat coordinator Zaid Ibrahim would helm Pakatan Rakyat coalition once it is registered as a formal coalition.

Clarifying this to reporters in Parliament, Chua who is also a Batu MP said the coalition has yet to decide on the leadership line-up as they have to wait for Pakatan to be a "legal entity" first.

"So, the rest of the things including the constitution, logo and leadership will be decided when the registration is approved," he said.

Yesterday, the foreign news wire AFP reported that Pakatan had proposed to appoint Zaid (left), once an Umno minister in charge of law, as its chairperson.

Quoting an anonymous source, the report said Zaid's name had been submitted for approval to the Registrar of Societies.

According to Chua, however, the coalition will only decide on the matter at a 'later stage'.

Registration is key

"This is not the issue of putting who as the chairperson. At the moment, the whole procedure is to register the party and the Pakatan leadership will deliver on the actual manifesto.

"(But we still) deciding who will hold what position but that is at a much later stage," he said.

Early this week, Pakatan has applied for formal registration with the Registrar of Societies, a move to make the loose tri-partite coalition as a single entity against arch rivals Barisan Nasional.

When repeatedly pressed by reporters, Chua gave the same reply that no thought had been given to the leadership line-up.

"This is a process. It is like giving a brand name of a company where the marketing plan is not part of the registration.

"We still have to work on our marketing plans and our products," he added.

Chua (right) also stressed that it is more important to register the coalition as it would enable all the three allies - PKR, DAP and PAS - to concentrate on with "strengthening" Pakatan.

"The (registration) is the only one small part of our whole of formalisation of Pakatan and it is in the process of consolidating itself and strengthening our secretariat".

He said all Pakatan allies were currently drafting a common policies platform.

On the same note, he denied that the coalition's leadership lineup would be on the agenda at next month's party convention.

"The convention will only discuss Pakatan policies, our function and how to strengthen our election machinery," he added.

The Recent Japanese Elections - Tsunami politics hits Asia Again

By Dennis Ignatius, Diplomatically Seaking - The Star

RECENTLY, a tsunami struck Japan that the weathermen did not predict: it was a wave of dissatisfaction and anger that swept the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) out of office and brought to power an untried and untested party.

It is another potent reminder of the political change that is sweeping Asia, a sign that the old compact of middle-class prosperity in exchange for “soft authoritarianism” is on the way out.

The LDP, which has ruled in one way or another for 62 of the past 63 years, was considered the “natural governing party” of Japan. Its electoral successes over the years had turned Japan into a de facto one-party state. One-party rule, however, invariably breeds corruption and complacency.

That is precisely what occurred in Japan.

As the country’s economy stagnated and public debt piled up, the LDP continued with business as usual. Factional bosses, many from long-established political families, continued to wheel and deal and take turns at being prime minister while the country careened from one political scandal to another.

The voters decided that they had had enough. Turning out in record numbers (more than 70% voted), they handed victory on Aug 30 to the inexperienced Democratic Party (DP) under the leadership of Yukio Hatoyama.

The DP captured 308 of the 480 seats in the Diet, the lower house of parliament. The LDP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Taro Aso, managed to win only 119 seats, two-thirds less than before.

For those who know just how cautious and averse to change the Japanese electorate is, the results were nothing less than revolutionary.

The consensus among observers is that Hatoyama will move cautiously in the months ahead as he has to contend with Japan’s powerful and entrenched bureaucracy.

Nevertheless, Hatoyama has promised to reinvigorate the economy at home, introduce comprehensive social programmes and chart a more independent policy course abroad.

During the election campaign, Hatoyama mused about steering Japan closer to Asia while lessening dependence on the United States.

He has also suggested that the presence of US forces in Japan needs to be reviewed, especially with regard to Okinawa.

It would be interesting to see how all this plays out in the months ahead.

Looking at the broader canvas, the Japanese political tsunami speaks of a wider change that is under way in Asia.

Asian electorates are stirring, becoming more sophisticated and willing to take the kind of risks that are always inherent in change. And they are demonstrating that they are capable of making mature choices for themselves and their countries.

In Indonesia, for example, the mainly-Muslim electorate has eschewed religious fanaticism in favour of development and good governance.

In Malaysia, old fears are giving way to a willingness to experiment with new political permutations. In other nations, electorates are straining at the leash, refusing to be treated as children.

Asia’s rulers, long accustomed to hiding behind the façade of “Asian values” to justify their right to rule, will have to contend with this rising expectation for accountability as well as voter insistence on the right to dismiss their governments if they fail to deliver.

Cosmetic changes and mere rhetoric will no longer suffice. And neither will attempts to manipulate religious or ethnic sentiment.

A Japanese voter summed up the mood when he said: “We need to teach politicians to be nervous about us.”

Perhaps the age of “natural governing parties” is now finally coming to an end in Asia.

The new domestic power configurations that elections are throwing up across Asia are far from perfect. Witness the regular brawls in Taiwan’s parliament or the upheavals in the South Korean government or even the missteps of the Selangor state government.

Opposition parties have, after all, lived in the shadow of powerful ruling parties for so long that they have no tradition or experience in running a government.

Of the 308 DP members who were elected recently in Japan, for example, 143 are in parliament for the first time, and only a few of the rest have any Cabinet exposure. They will make mistakes and may even end up imitating the very parties they were elected to replace.

The new governments that are emerging in Asia are often based on coalitions of disaffected groups with different agendas and sometimes opposing demands; finding consensus will not be an easy task.

These coalitions will tend to be unstable, at least in the short term, but hopefully will find their footing if they can hang together long enough.

Nevertheless, it is all part of the process of democratic transformation. Asian electorates, for their part, seem to be willing to live with a level of uncertainty, and even instability, in the hope that it will eventually lead to more accountable and responsive governments.

As a result, parliamentary democracy is strengthening across the region and genuine two-party systems are taking shape. These developments are going to impact Asia in profound ways in the years ahead.

If I am the political strategist of a political party I will really need to study this Japanese general elections and their implications. Failure to do will jeopardize the future of my party.

What makes Malaysia ticks

Reflecting on the Law

By Shad Saleem Faruqi

Instead of creating a melting pot, Malaysia painstakingly weaved a rich cultural mosaic, the various people like the colours of a rainbow – separate but not apart.

A HIGH-POWERED delegation from Afghanistan is visiting the UM’s International Institute of Public Policy and Management to study our parliamentary system and to get a background on what makes our country tick.

And tick it does! Even US President Barack Obama gave us a pat on the back for being an exemplar among Muslim nations.

I had the privilege of addressing the audience. This was no time for me to count our failings, which are many, but to single out those “best practices” and those unique features that have helped us to survive and thrive.

Some of these could provide pointers to countries like Fiji, Afghanistan and Iraq – which have similarly diverse and divided societies.

For example, the way Malaysian federalism concedes the special aspirations of Sabah and Sarawak could provide a paradigm for accommodation for the restive regions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

To the Afghani audience, I counted 10 sterling achievements of our socio-legal system.

First, is our peace and social harmony. We are not at war with any nation or with ourselves. There was one war with Indonesia in 1964; one major racial riot in 1969; and a communist insurgency up to the 80s. Today, no religious, racial or regional grouping is at arms against the Government.

Second is the wondrous durability of political cooperation among the country’s racial, religious and regional groups.

The political alliance, painstakingly forged by the forefathers in 1954, was built on an overwhelming spirit of accommodation, a moderateness of spirit, an absence of the kind of passions, zeal and ideological convictions that in other plural societies have left a heritage of bitterness and violence.

The Alliance/Barisan Nasional is perhaps the world’s longest surviving political alliance. It is a unique and unparalleled example of long-term power sharing among the multi-ethnic, majority-minority communities and between West Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak.

In a country of dazzlingly diverse, rich and autonomous cultural worlds, each in its own orbit, the 14-party Barisan is the sun that keeps the various planets from colliding with each other.

The third sterling achievement is the country’s enduring and endearing inter-ethnic harmony that has few parallels in the world. The frequent sniping at each other notwithstanding, in general, Malaysians tolerate as well as celebrate each others’ religious and cultural festivals.

Instead of creating a melting pot, Malaysia painstakingly weaved a rich cultural mosaic. The plurality of lifestyles this engenders has given rise to an extraordinarily multi-faceted society. The various people of Malaysia are like the colours of a rainbow – separate but not apart.

For 52 years, Malaysia has provided the world with a rare example of how a fragmented multi-ethnic and multi-religious polity can be welded together in a common nationality.

Our fourth significant achievement is the eradication of hard core poverty and suffering.

Louis Armstrong in his immortal song reminded us how universal the desire is for a human being to want a place in the sun and to have a chance to give his kids a better life. The Government has vigorously facilitated this quest.

Through socio-economic measures such as free primary and secondary education, there has been tremendous upward social mobility among the masses.

Fifth, Malaysia has used its economy to preserve social peace. We adopted pragmatic, globalised economic policies long before globalisation. There is wide scope for economic initiative and enterprise.

A strong economy has acted as a glue to bind our people, first, by forging inter-ethnic economic partnerships and, second, by giving to every community a share and a stake in a delectable economic cake

There is a vibrant private sector, dominated by a dynamic and commercial-savvy Chinese community that has contributed immensely to Malaysia’s economic prosperity.

By utilising the economic genius of its enterprising minority communities, Malaysia has enjoyed a sustained economic prosperity that is matched by very few Asian and African societies.

An activist public sector helps the politically dominant but economically depressed Malay community to participate in more and more economic enterprises.

The sixth outstanding feature of Malaysia is the peaceful and cooperative manner in which social engineering is being accomplished.

Unlike some other societies with a similar problem of identification of race with economic function, the government in Malaysia did not, like in Uganda or Zimbabwe, expropriate the wealth of one community to bestow it on another.

Instead it embarked on a pragmatic expansion of opportunities to give to every community its share in the pie. The country’s efforts have reduced the tensions that flared in 1969 due to the economic gaps between the majority-minority communities.

A seventh characteristic feature of the Malaysian polity is the development of a culture that avoids open confrontation; that emphasises behind the scenes negotiations and compromises on a whole range of religious, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, economic and human rights issues.

Unlike other societies where social conflict is almost always played out in the streets, Malaysia imposes severe controls on mass protests. This has adverse human rights implications but has avoided the continuous cycle of political and religious violence that bedevils many democratic societies.

The eighth remarkable feature is that Malaysia as a Muslim country is an exemplar of a moderate, multi-cultural and tolerant society. Secularism and Islam co-exist in harmony and symbiosis.

The last two decades have seen the rise of political Islam and the increasingly divisive argument of adopting an Islamic state, but the Government has handled religious ideologues fairly successfully by adopting many Islamic measures but maintaining the broad secular, capitalistic, democratic and globalised features of Malaysia’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.

A ninth admirable feature is the emancipation of women. In the work place, in schools and in universities, women are easily outnumbering men.

Tenth, Malaysia has successfully kept the armed forces under civilian control. There has been no attempted coup d’etat and no “stern warnings” from military generals to the political executive.

Malaysia has kept the armed forces out of politics by creating a subtle check and balance between the armed force and the police force.

Another achievement is that the extra-constitutional military-industrial complex that, behind the scenes, dictates policy in many democratic countries, the US included, has not been able to displace civilian control over military and industrial decisions in Malaysia.

To the participants of the UM course I had to say that there is much in Malaysia’s struggles and successes that is worthy of emulation by friends and foes alike.

I hope that some lessons from Malaysia’s trials, tribulations and triumphs may allow the long-suffering but great people of Afghanistan to achieve peace and prosperity.

> Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi is Emeritus Professor at UiTM and Visiting Professor at USM.

When Lee Kuan Yew meets Rosmah

I can understand why Lee wanted to meet many people, including the Prime Minister and his deputy, MCA leaders, Pakatan Rakyat leaders and media executives when he came to pay a visit.

Lee wanted to see them on behalf of some significance. He could get a lot of information that helped him to understand Malaysia better by talking to these people.

It is understandable even if he wanted to talk to a hawker or a taxi driver as they could provide him with another type of information to inspire a different thought, giving him another level of understanding about Malaysia.

But Rosmah Mansor? Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s wife? I don’t understand.

Just like when Najib visited China, I’m afraid that all the diplomats of both the countries would be surprised if Najib wanted to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao’s wife Liu Yongqing.

How weird!

However, Lee was well-known by his careful thinking and good insight. There must be logic behind everything he did.

Rosmah is the Prime Minister’s wife with a status. But she is not a politician and she possesses no governmental position.

But Lee said that Najib and Rosmah work as a team. Najib may consider his wife’s views before making a decision.

Can we consider Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali a team, too? But Lee did not meet Dr Siti during his last visit to Malaysia. Also, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and wife Tun Jeanne Abdullah were inseparable, but did Lee ever meet Jeanne?

At the very least, for Lee and many others, Rosmah is not an ordinary First Lady, like Dr Siti or Jeanne, but an influential First Lady instead.

Of course, the participation scope and influences of the First Lady is a controversial subject in many countries. There is a gray area in terms of both public and private affairs.

Lee and Rosmah spoke for an hour over satay and kueh. They exchanged opinions on bilateral relations and education issues.

The focus was neither on whether Lee liked the satay and keuh, nor the bilateral relations and educational policies.

Lee has always been a good observer. Perhaps, the meeting with Rosmah was another gain of his visit. (By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)

Selangor waste management contract went the state's three ruling parties on 40-30-30 quota

S Pathmawathy | Malaysiakini

The Selangor government has decided to probe the awards of waste management contracts in the wake of allegations that these went to the state’s three ruling parties based on a 40-30-30 quota. MCPX Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim (left) said an audit committee will be set up to work with solid waste management company Alam Flora Sdn Bhd to ensure that its contracts are awarded to “genuine operators” and not party-linked brokers. The controversy surfaced last week when Petaling Jaya councillor A Thiruvenggadam revealed details of “dubious dealings” between the Pakatan Rakyat-run state government and Alam Flora - the company which has been appointed to manage solid waste in Selangor. According to Thiruvenggadam, the Selangor government had apparently issued a directive to Alam Flora instructing it to provide 70 percent of its contracts to government-friendly companies for the collection and removal of rubbish. The councillor said the contracts had been awarded to companies linked to Selangor’s three ruling parties - 40 percent to PKR, 30 percent to PAS and 30 percent to DAP - as a means to fund their divisions and branches. It is believed that in return for such contracts, the companies would generously donate money to fund local party activities. Thiruvenggadam (right) said that such a system of awarding contracts to ruling parties was originally practised by the previous BN state government but this was however adopted by the new Pakatan government. Contracts given to party-linked brokers Although the existence of such a quota system has been repeatedly denied by Pakatan leaders, they have nevertheless argued that there was 'no harm' in politicians providing recommendations to Alam Flora regarding the contracts. Thiruvenggadam told Malaysiakini that the existence of the quota system contradicts what Pakatan leaders have professed on taking power from BN. “If the recommendations are successful, the contractors would share their profits with the politician who makes these recommendations,” revealed Thiruvenggadam. Under pressure from the controversy, Khalid today said that those companies which took a cut as brokers would have their contracts immediately terminated. “They (audit committee) will be conducting ground checks and inspect the value of the services provided... companies that are found to be brokers will have their contracts withdrawn immediately and these cases will be reported to the relevant authorities,” said Khalid in a press statement. “The state government hopes that the formation of the committee will curb the unhealthy practice of awarding contracts to brokers instead of genuine operators. “This practice was rampant under the previous state government and the Pakatan Rakyat government in Selangor has no intention to continue such unethical trend,” he stated. Khalid stressed that the measure was being implemented to ensure the people of Selangor “will be provided value-for-money services by those (who are) awarded contracts, irrespective of what their political affiliations, race or background may be”. The MB’s statement also clarified that the state is in the midst of researching for a more transparent and accountable tender system for future waste management contracts. A slippery slope to cronyism Meanwhile, DAP parliamentarian Tony Pua has lashed out at Pakatan leaders arguing that politicians should not be involved in 'recommending' contractors. Pua (right), who is also the Petaling Jaya Utara MP, conceded that such a mechanism “poses a serious credibility threats to the Pakatan government” which would eventually lead corrupt practices. “The Selangor state exco must immediately investigate the veracity of these claims... we would like to call upon the executive councillor for infrastructure and public amenities, Dr Hassan Mohd Ali, who is in charge of Alam Flora waste management services, to confirm or deny the allegations,” said Tony in a statement. However, despite numerous attempts, Malaysiakini has been unsuccessful in reaching Hassan for his comments on the allegations. Pua warned that if such a practice was implemented, it would be detrimental to the state's image as a government that “epitomises transparency and good governance”. “The allegations, if true, will put us on a slippery slope to become a government which condones patronage and cronyism, (making us) no different from Barisan Nasional. “If the allegations are however found to be false or misguided, then Thiruvenggadam must apologise for his allegations,” said Pua. Emulate DAP-led Penang government Moreover, Pua stressed that DAP has a policy of strongly rejecting patronage politics where politicians call the shots in deciding the contractors for public service contracts. “We are firm in our belief that these contracts must be tendered to all qualified parties in an open, transparent and competitive manner. Only then will the rakyat receive the best quality services at the lowest possible prices,” said Pua. “The DAP-led Pakatan government in Penang has taken great pains to ensure that politicians are not put in a position to indulge in patronage politics which promotes corruption and nepotism... this serves to ensure that our policy of competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) is not only preached, but practised,” he added. Pua urged the Selangor government to clear the air of lingering suspicions on the manner the contracts are awarded. He suggested the state to implement a competitive tender, even if it is limited to a certain class of contractors, to ensure that corruption and cronyism will not take root under the Pakatan government. “Political parties have no position, business or role in putting forward names of preferred contractors for the purposes of municipal council contracts,” he reiterated.

How a Christian priest looked at Prophet Muhammad pbuh

Reverend Bosworth Smith in 'Muhammad and Muhammadanism,' London, 1874.

"Head of the State as well as the Church, he was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without the Pope's pretensions, and Caesar without the legions of Caesar, without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a police force, without a fixed revenue. If ever a man ruled by a right divine, it was Muhammad, for he had all the powers without their supports. He cared not for the dressings of power. The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life."

Dr Mansor Othman won Penanti Bye Election - will be appointed as DCM Penang

Dr Mansor Othman wins the seat by garnering 6,052 votes. His nearest rival is Nai Khan with 494, followed by Aminah with 392. Kamarul obtained 56 votes. Mansor's majority is 5,558 votes. All three independents lost their deposits. The win for Mansor - after a series of three previous electoral defeats - now opens the door for him to be appointed as the Penang deputy chief minister. A blog entry by DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, whose son Guan Eng is the chief minister, said that Mansor will be sworn in on Wednesday. Only 7,100 people cast their votes in what is clearly a historic low turnout - standing at only 46.15 percent. There were a total of 15,384 registered voters in the constituency. Nai Khan had done very well in two polling areas - Teluk Wang which has many Thai residents and Sungai Lembu, a Gerakan stronghold. Nai Khan is the first Thai descendant to contest in an election in Malaysia. He is also a former Penang Gerakan Youth leader. In Teluk Wang, Nai Khan obtained 154 votes as opposed to Mansor's 180, Aminah, 21, and Kamarul, 1. In Sungai Lembu, Nai Khan garnered 102 votes, coming behind Mansor's 258. Aminah and Kamarul gained two votes each. Aminah did well in the Malay areas of Mengkuang, Kuala Mengkuang and Guar Perahu. She also won the battle for the postal votes by getting 12, followed by Kamarul, 7, Mansor, 2, and Nai Khan, 0. Malaysiakini

Power struggle puts PAS at crossroads

A power struggle in Islamic party PAS will be put to the test in leadership polls this week which pit hardline clerics against young moderates who want to rebrand the party. MCPX PAS has enjoyed a surge in popularity thanks to deep public disillusionment with the Barisan Nasional coalition that has governed the multiracial country for half a century. PAS has formed an unlikely alliance with two other opposition parties which has stuck together despite wide differences in their ideologies, giving them a chance to unseat the coalition in the next elections due in several years. But the PAS general assembly on June 5-7 will lay bare the dilemma at the party's core - whether to swing back to its hardline roots or to put on a more moderate face to continue winning back support after some barren years. "The party is at a threshold - whether it can transcend its history of catering largely to Muslims and put in place a model that everyone in the country including non-Muslims can accept," said pollster Ibrahim Suffian. "They need to be able to articulate issues relating to the economy, security, international trade... to not only look after your hereafter, but look after your here and today," said Ibrahim, from Merdeka Centre research. Some 60 percent of Malaysians are Muslim Malays, but the population includes large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities, and if PAS wants to break out beyond its niche it needs to attract support from minorities. Curiously, despite pushing for the creation of an Islamic state and the introduction of "hudud" laws like chopping off thieves' hands, PAS has won the trust and support of many non-Muslims. Chinese and Indian voters have enthusiastically supported PAS candidates in seats where they stood for the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance, and thousands have joined PAS 'Supporters' Clubs' around the country. Rebranding exercise in jeopardy Much of the attraction stems from PAS' reputation as a clean party untainted by the corruption which is endemic in the ruling coalition. And in Kelantan, where it has long been in power, minorities have few complaints and are not obliged to observe local bylaws that discourage skimpy clothing and high heels. Reforms introduced before landmark 2008 elections, when the Pakatan Rakyat snatched a third of parliamentary seats in an unprecedented performance, reversed a decline that had seen PAS decimated in 2004 polls. "They stopped talking about wanting to impose stricter syariah laws and they had much more moderate faces in the party, people who were professionals and able to converse in English," said Ibrahim. But this rebranding exercise is now in jeopardy with a vote for top leadership posts, including the deputy presidency, which will see a clash between incumbent Nasharuddin Mat Isa and challenger Husam Musa (right). Husam is an economist who typifies the party's new generation of educated professionals, while Nasharuddin is closely identified with the party's conservative president Abdul Hadi Awang. Husam is an ally of PAS' iconic spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, a quirky figure who is a highly respected religious leader and also a big supporter of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Nasharuddin meanwhile played a leading role in "secret" talks last year with the ruling party Umno - which leads the Barisan Nasional coalition - that were hugely controversial within the party. Observers say that if Nasharuddin retains his post, the fragile bonds between the opposition partners will begin to erode, jeopardising its ability to challenge the coalition. "PAS is at a crossroads now. This meeting will see whether PAS is inclined to have a good relationship with Umno or have a good relationship with its opposition partners," a party insider told AFP. He said that a rebuke to Husam would also send out a negative message to non-Muslims that it remains the "party of the ulamas", the elderly cohort of clerics who have historically dominated the party. "As a political party PAS has to go with the (reform) approach, that which is accepted by the Malaysian people. During the last general election PAS had a lot of support from non-Muslims and it has to maintain that," he said. - AFP as quoted by Malaysiakini