The dynamics in the PAS 55th Muktamar illustrate significant ongoing changes for PAS as a party. One year after the March 2008 polls, PAS is working to shed its parochialism and portray itself as a national contender.

The political ambition is raw, and it is driving transformations in the party. Despite this yearning for power, there are real obstacles for PAS to become a party that can appeal to Malaysians nationally and these come from within the Islamic party itself.

Many PAS leaders recognise the hurdles, and have been quietly and not so quietly pushing for reforms within the party. Change within PAS, however, will not occur quickly and the internal struggles over the future of the party will be painful and even potentially divisive now that the political stakes are higher.

Based on the election results and floor debate at last week’s muktamar, reforming PAS internally has become even more difficult.