With the election of dynamic young professional leaders to key leadership positions within Islamic Party PAS, change is clearly in the air. Older stalwarts were replaced by a younger cohort of politicians committed to political pragmatism, including working with non-Muslims.

The dynamic new deputy party leader, Nasharudin Mat Isa, three non-ulama (religious scholar) vice-presidents and a professional dominated new executive council represent a marked shift in the party hierarchy that has become increasingly ulama governed and led.

The 2005 election has been touted as a change in the direction of the party reminiscent of the shift that began in the early 1980s that rebuilt the strength of the party as a stronger opposition alternative.