INTERVIEW Should PAS fare badly in the next general election, it will not be impossible for the Islamist party to lose control of its home base, Kelantan.

This is one of the issues that worries veteran PAS leader Mahfuz Omar, who himself was defeated in the party’s recent central leadership elections.

“What I really worry about is losing Kelantan,” Mahfuz said in an interview with Malaysiakini yesterday.

He has some basis to this claim.

Citing a survey conducted by 'a good friend' of his who works in a higher learning institution, Mahfuz said the percentage of those in favour of PAS was not satisfactory.

“My friend collected comments from readers of PAS-friendly media outlets, such as Harakah Daily and TranungKite (online), and the percentage (of those who commended PAS) was not pleasing at all.

“Therefore, I advise the new party leadership of today to review these comments made by various people through the online media,” he said.

Mahfuz, who has been a PAS member since 1984, said the party’s leadership should find ways to solve the problems, using such input from the online media as reference.

“They cannot act nonchalant because these comments are a result of the outcome of the recent muktamar and on how the leadership campaigning was seen as unhealthy.

“I am not saying this. It is the commentators who did,” he said.

During the PAS muktamar early last month, the hardline ulama (religious scholars) faction made a clean sweep of all the top posts at the expense of the progressives in the the party.

This led to uncertainty within the Pakatan Rakyat coalition as well as the future direction of PAS in general, especially after the muktamar passed a motion to sever its ties with DAP.

The Pokok Sena MP also said he believes that the next general election would be held earlier than expected, based on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s announcement that the Umno elections due next year would be postponed for 18 months .

“The general election will be held earlier, most probably in 2017. This is the clear message I received from the postponement of the Umno elections because, if the general election is held in 2018, the Umno elections do not need to be postponed,” he observed.

Bigger fractures possible

He  added it was also not impossible for the 14th general election to be held simultaneously with the Sarawak state election.

“This is so that opposition leaders will not be able to give their full attention to the Sarawak election,” Mahfuz pointed out.

As such, with the possibility of the general election being held earlier, Mahfuz called on the new PAS leaders to take drastic measures from now onwards to preserve the Islamist party's position.

“They only have a year-and-a-half to repair the damage that has occurred, in order to prevent bigger fractures from taking place.

“The PAS leadership must find solutions to remedy the ill after effect of the party’s 61st muktamar, with one being the tarnished image of PAS.

“This must be done comprehensively, and not with mere words because anyone can simply talk,” he said.

Mahfuz's comments come as concern mounts among party insiders about the huge burden on the new, conservative PAS leadership in ensuring the party remains relevant in the run-up to the next general election.

The party’s worsening ties with the DAP certainly do not help matters and its future in the Selangor government remains uncertain.

This because it is not impossible for Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali to choose the DAP against PAS, should the political push become a practical shove.

Tomorrow: Give non-Muslims full rights, PAS told