Although academicians and political analysts are of the view that PAS is facing a leadership crisis, party president Abdul Hadi Awang remains upbeat that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Using an analogy of a football team, Hadi likened the party to a popular football team absorbing tremendous pressure battling on its home turf, watched by a huge number of supporters.

"Just imagine PAS as a football team. We have a manager and a coach guiding it. Then, we have the commentators who critique the way we play.

"The team is cheered on by vociferous supporters and provoked by rivals on the other end of the field. Some provoke us by throwing firecrackers on the field when we play.

pas seminar 071109 hadi awang "But we don't resort to ever throwing the firecrackers back at them," said Hadi during his winding-up speech at a party seminar in Kuala Lumpur today.

"Just like in the real world," he added, "where there are biting criticisms hurled at the party, leaders should not reject their views totally but instead "accept them with a magnanimous heart".

"It won't do any good to to the team if the captain or the manager is fired during half time of the game as result of emotional responses.

"We need to be professional, we are not kampung football players. We should instead thank those who have made constructive criticisms," said Hadi.

Earlier today, the PAS seminar saw many members retaliating against political analyst Abdul Aziz Bari for his stringent criticism of the party leadership.

We are like newly-commisioned ship

Later at a press conference, Hadi reiterated that PAS will remain in Pakatan Rakyat and vowed that the party will be consistent with its principles within the opposition coalition.

pas seminar 071109 02 Likening the party's partnership with PKR and DAP to "a ship that has just been built", he said the ship needed to be tested and strengthened so that it could face challenges in the sea of democracy.

"We will face the storms with patience and prove to the people that we are committed to bringing changes to our country," said Hadi.

To a question whether he felt offended by the criticisms the party received from the academicians today, he said: "It is normal to have that.

"There are constructive criticisms and there are not. So we will take into account the constructive ones and we rebut the ones that needs addressing," he said.

Five resolutions achieved

Earlier, vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, who was also the seminar's chairman said that the party has passed five resolutions at the seminar.

They are:

  • To strengthen Pakatan and prepare for the next general election and to urge party leaders and members to be more proactive in administrating Pakatan.
  • Get more non-Muslim supporters to be more active in PAS.
  • Uphold and strengthen the party's principles through research and information.
  • Find ways to strengthen the Youth wing so that it could reach out to a wider audience of young voters.
  • Develop an action plan and strengthen the national campaign of 'PAS for all'.