PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has warned that those who abandon ship will drown, but rebels from the defeated progressive faction insist that they can remain afloat.

Former PAS central committee member Hanipa Maidin told Malaysiakini that things are different now, compared to the scenario painted by Hadi.

"If we try to compare to previous instances, normally those who leave PAS go nowhere. But the political scenario is different now.

"I believe there are many sensible PAS members who want PAS to take a central position in Malaysian politics and to be with Pakatan (Rakyat)," he said, defending the formation of a new group within the party, dubbed G18.

The G18 is made up of progressive leaders, who were purged from PAS' top leadership in this year's muktamar.

One of the members is Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who echoed Hanipa's sentiment.

"Previously (PAS splinter groups) Berjasa and Hamim were closely linked to Umno and BN, that is why in the end they faltered.

"But we want to fight BN and Umno, and strengthen Pakatan, this is not just any kind of struggle.

"So I don't think what (Hadi) said applies to us," he told Malaysiakini .

Holier than thou leaders

Khalid explained that the struggle by G18 is not new, but a continuation of what has been established by former leaders.

" We want to continue the vision of the struggle founded by former presidents, the late Fadzil Noor, Yusof Rawa, as well as (former spiritual leader) the late Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat," he said.

Hanipa said the struggle carried by the current PAS leadership is hard for the public to accept.

"We tried to change PAS, to project Islam that is inclusive, democratic [...] but unfortunately that projection won't materialise (instead) they (PAS leaders) try to be more holier than thou.

"This kind of Islam, that the present PAS leadership is trying to project, I don't think people can buy this version of Islam," he said.