After being ousted from the PAS leadership by conservative hardliners, the party's progressives have finally publicly acknowledged that they may be in need of a new vehicle to further their political struggle.

Even though many are friendly with Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (Pasma), comprising pro-Pakatan Rakyat PAS members sidelined by the new conservative leadership, they have been less than receptive about the NGO's plan to form a political party.

PAS' Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa said while the progressives must now consider the option of a new vehicle, he is strongly opposed to the forming of splinter parties.

This would effectively rule out the PAS progressives joining Pasma or forming a new political party of their own, which would also be a splinter party of PAS.

"Whatever this new vehicle will be, it must comprise not just the splinter group in PAS.

"We need a party that comes from the grassroots - the Malaysian grassroots," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

He added that the new party must be able to differentiate itself from the current political parties to survive more than a few election cycles.

A place in Nazir's NGO?

Coincidentally, Nazir Abdul Razak, the brother of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is planning a broad-based movement for moderation which ideals appear similar to Mujahid.

Saifuddin Abdullah, a moderate Umno man with bi-partisan links who is slated to be the public face of this new movement, today confirmed he was in talks on the matter.

Mujahid had described Saifuddin as a "good friend" and are co-authoring a book on "new politics".

Therefore, it does not come as a surprise if the PAS leader, who has been talking about a "new vehicle", is linked to the proposed new movement.

However, Mujahid said today was the first time he heard of this proposal.

"No, not yet, (I have not been approached) because the news only came up this morning.

"I wouldn't know if they want me on board, as far as I am concerned, he (Saifuddin) had not approached me," he said.

Mujahid also refused to say whether he was open to joining this new movement, stating that he can only decide after he obtained more details.

But with his insistence against joining a splinter party, a broad-ranging movement like the one proposed by Nazir may be a more viable option.

While Nazir's proposed entity is not a political party, it will not be the first time a movement that is successful in capturing wide-ranging support spins off a political party.