COMMENT The current struggle between the ulama and the Erdogans in PAS brings reminiscences of Umno’s split in 1987, when then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Team A fended off the challenge from a growing voice of dissent in the political faction, Team B led by one of its vice-presidents.

The recent week has unfolded, with one faction firing salvos on each other, with more to be expected during the muktamar PAS in Batu Pahat in the next few days. This is to be expected of any political party, until its deputy spiritual adviser, Haron Din, issued a gag order barring members from openly voicing their unhappiness over the party’s leadership rift.

At this juncture, it is the party’s spiritual adviser, Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat who plays a vital role in uniting both factions of the party, but even the octogenarian does not have many years more to live.