Political analyst and constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari today said that the leadership of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang can be likened to 'a PAS version of Pak Lah'.

Pak Lah is the affectionate nickname for former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who has often been criticised for his 'flip-flop' and lacklustre policies.

NONE Abdul Aziz claimed that this was the mood and general understanding that he got in his conversations with the Islamic party's leaders and grassroots.

In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini this morning, the Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) professor said that while the PAS president was once a highly credible leader in the 1980s, "Hadi has ran out of steam."

He mentioned Hadi's failure to defend his famous 'Amanat Hadi' (Hadi's Message) from that era as a perfect example of the PAS president's lack of conviction as a leader.

"In Amanat Hadi he vilified Umno, but now he wants to work with them?" he asked.

"He was a good deputy, he is loyal and dedicated, but he is not a good leader," he said.

Furthermore, Abdul Aziz said the veteran PAS leader does not possess the ability to read the game and play in the 'New Politic' arena.

pas muktamar 2008 hadi He explained that the arena of 'New Politic' is a battle of the mind, issues and ideas "but I do not see Hadi as someone that can bring any new ideas to the table."

Abdul Aziz said that Hadi does not possess the presence that is seen in Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, PAS spiritual advisor Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and DAP's Lim Kit Siang.

He added that Nik Aziz, Lim and Anwar do not need to be present for their presence and ideology to be felt throughout their parties, but Hadi's presence can barely be experienced nor his ideology felt in PAS.

"Hadi has failed in this measure," added the political analyst.

'The problem with PAS is Hadi'

Abdul Aziz reiterated his often voiced belief that the core problem with PAS is the weak leadership of Hadi Awang and the collection of 'supporters' who continue to lead him by the nose.

"It is difficult to deny that Hadi is being led by his supporters and being fed with their ideas.

"Unfortunately, Hadi himself seem to be unaware that his leadership is 'sick'. Else he would have either quit or taken the medication to cure himself," he said.

The decried those who say that he has something to gain and was responsible for creating the rift in PAS, "I am not a player in the party. There is no use attacking me."

What is more important, said the professor, is that PAS is now in a crisis that may effect its very survival. This is because the Islamic party's central leadership is filled by what he calls 'legless' leaders.

nasharuddin nik aziz manek urai 110709 nasha pc "They can't even win on their home ground, instead they have to be propped up by the party in 'safe' seats, these kind of leaders are without legs, they can't last long," he added, pointing the finger at deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa.

"More importantly, the current leadership does not seem to understand the new movement in PAS with its concepts of charity government and PAS for all," he explained.

Abdul Aziz gave the example of Selangor commissioner Hasan Ali's actions of 'championing' the issues of race and religion as an example.

"Islam and the Malay agenda needs defending, but not in that context," he said.

The proper way, he explained, is to be tactful in finding a way to fight for these things inclusively, like how Anwar defused 'Ketuanan Melayu' with 'Ketuanan Rakyat'.

He said this retreat in the mentality of the Islamic party's leadership doesn't bode well for the party and its acceptance by the non-Muslims, especially with the fate of the party's non-Muslim supporters club still in limbo.

'You fail, you go'

Abdul Aziz said that the current crop of PAS' central leadership might not understand the real interpretation of a truly inclusive Islamic government.

"This is scary. When people who are supposed to be leading the way in these matters do not understand it themselves," he added.

Abdul Aziz theorised that this is what Nik Aziz saw and this is why he is concerned about the future of PAS and why he is asking "problematic" leaders to go.

He warned that the problem with PAS is not only being noticed by Nik Aziz but also by Umno who is doing all they can to bait PAS into prolonging the flirtation with the 'unity government'.

Umno doesn't have to defeat or pull PAS into BN to hurt Pakatan Rakyat, all it has to do is bait Hadi and watch the Islamic party fight amongst themselves, he added.

This, the UIA professor said, will only profit Umno while PAS and Pakatan will lose.

nik aziz nasharuddin mat isa hadi awang pas pc 220609 04 "Hadi and his supporters may no longer be promoting the unity government agenda, but their image has been tainted by it. Politics is all about image," he pointed out.

This, he added, will continue to haunt Hadi and his supporters. "In politics there is no second chance. You do, if you fail, you go."

Abdul Aziz was seen as the man whose article has led to Nik Aziz to call for Abdul Hadi and a number of pro-Umno PAS leaders to quit.

Nik Aziz quoted Abdul Aziz's article in his blog posting calling for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to trash out the matter.

However, at a top-level party meeting last Thursday, PAS decided against an EGM but will hold a seminar instead.

Abdul Aziz is one of invited speakers at the seminar which will be held tomorrow and attended by PAS leaders nationwide.

The academic told Malaysiakini that the seminar is probably a more suitable arena for Nik Aziz to air his views over the matter, rather than through the much stricter protocols that an EGM would require.

Q&A: 'Nik Aziz bites like a Komodo'