The policy speech of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang drew mixed reactions where party leaders felt that it had succeeded in boosting the morale of its members while observers felt that it was mere rhetoric.

Vice-president Hasan Ali said the speech has managed to spur the spirit of the members to work harder for the party while a former journalist and party supporter called it "downright boring."

Hasan explained that the speech was to remind party members and leaders not to lose faith and direction.

"That is why the president had cited examples from the Quran and Prophet's traditions to show that our struggle - which is based on Islam - must undergo trials and tribulations just like our predecessors. Whatever the test is, we must persevere," he said.

An anti-climax

Expressing his disappointment, the former journalist said "there was nothing new in his speech."

"It's mere rhetoric, very boring. What is more upsetting is that it is an anti-climax to the sentiments created by the youth wing earlier," he said.

"The youth wing had correctly pinpointed our mistakes and pushed for changes. They talked of re-branding the party to pull in more support. But the president touched little on this."

Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub in his policy speech at the youth's annual assembly on Wednesday called for internal change and re-branding of the party to appeal to the masses.

A party observer also expressed his disappointment on the speech stating that it failed to address the pertinent issues relating to the party's lame performance in the March general election.

He said instead of pointing out the party's mistakes and forwarding strategies to overcome them, the president chose to point fingers at external forces.

"Yes we know that the Election Commission, Barisan Nasional's dirty tactics and anti-Islam groups had always tried to impede our influence but that's nothing new. Why put so much focus on those factors," he said.

Another observer from the Klang Valley said it seemed as if Abdul Hadi was trying to divert members' attention from the party's weaknesses.

"How can we help the party if it does not want to help itself," asked the observer who is also a party supporter.

Find own directions?

A party leader from Selangor said the speech started on the right track when Abdul Hadi called on leaders to study past decisions made by the party and to find ways to correct mistakes committed.

"Unfortunately as the speech unfolds, we discover that it was just a fleeting statement. He made no comment on what the mistakes were and neither did he provide the direction on how to overcome them," said the leader who requested anonymity.

"I suppose he wanted us to make the comments and find the directions ourselves. I guess we will have to thrash it out in the debate today."

Dissenting such views is PAS central committee Husam Musa who said that the president had in his policy speech opened the issue (calling for internal changes) for the delegates to debate.

"A policy speech does not have to mention everything in detail. What is clear from the message is that all delegates must be open to criticisms. We leaders are ready to hear complaints and we will consider everything," he said.

Looking at the positive side of the speech, Salahudin said Abdul Hadi had reminded party members not to allow the election results to dampen their fighting spirit.

"Instead, he ask us to use it as a lesson to guide us in forming new tactic in our future struggle," he said.