INTERVIEW | In 2002, PAS lost Fadzil Noor, one of its most influential leaders, who led the party for 13 years.

At the time of his passing, the New York Times described Fadzil as a moderate, because he warned more hardline leaders that imposing Islamic law across the board would only bring unrest in a multiracial country like Malaysia.

Faiz Fadzil hopes to continue his father’s legacy of moderation with his candidacy in the Penang state seat of Permatang Pasir – albeit under the banner of the PAS splinter party, Amanah.

The 41-year-old Universiti Islam Antarabangsa graduate with his own law firm is hopeful that the constituents there accept him as their representative, though he was born in neighbouring Kedah.

"I have been in Permatang Pasir for almost two years and have a house here. Although hailing from Kedah, it is not unusual for Kedahans to contest here.

Permatang Pasir, which is located under the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency, has been inexorably linked to reform after the sacking of its MP, then-deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, in 1998.

It has since been held by PAS, which was then part of the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat.

Though Faiz was previously a member in his father’s party, he joined the exodus to Amanah in 2015, and now holds the position of Youth deputy chief.

Large shadow

Faiz joins the long list of politicians’ children contesting in the 14th general election, most notably BN’s Najib Abdul Razak and Hishammuddin Hussein, PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar, Amanah’s Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Bersatu’s Mukhriz Mahathir, as well as DAP’s Lim Guan Eng and Gobind Singh Deo.

Most have chosen to keep it in the family when it comes to choice of party, but he is one of the few exceptions.

Though he once famously said that his father would support Amanah if he were still alive, Faiz said he still had to get his mother’s blessing before he could contest under a Pakatan Harapan ticket.

He admits that Fadzil’s shadow is cast large, but stressed that the late PAS leader always reminded his children to make their own way in the world.

"Politics is in everyone's blood, but having a parent involved in politics like my father also helps, as we share the experience of our parents.

"However, my late father believed that one has to rise based on one’s merits and abilities.

“I know I cannot run away from my father's shadow or legacy, but at the same time he reminded all of us to do the work by ourselves, and to always stand on our own feet," he said.

Push for change

One stark difference in this election is that the nemesis his father faced as leader of then-opposition pact Barisan Alternatif in 1999, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is now leading the opposition himself.

But according to Faiz, he accepts Mahathir and the party he chairs, Bersatu, as allies in Harapan’s push to unseat caretaker prime minister Najib and bring about reform.

"It would be wrong if we reject Mahathir if he wants to be with us, as he is going against a national leader who is cruel, and such a struggle cannot be done alone.

"This also shows that Amanah leaders like Mohamad Sabu have been magnanimous in accepting Mahathir, and shows that the party is not acting in its own self-interest, but the country’s interests at large," he said.

As Youth deputy chief of his party, Faiz is confident that young people will throw their support behind Harapan, as they are the hardest hit by the consequences of the Najib administration’s policies, particularly the GST and the rising cost of living.

"This gives the perception the present (caretaker) government led by Najib has failed to administer the country properly. This is made worse with the corruption scourge, wastage, the 1MDB scandal, Jho Low, and the purported theft done by the (caretaker) prime minister himself,” he stressed.

Faiz, along with other Harapan Youth leaders, had also formed the Gerakan Anak Muda Tolak Najib (GANT1) group that filed suit against Najib and 1MDB over the state investment firm’s payment to the International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC).

The suit was just one among a number filed by opposition figures in relation to 1MDB, like DAP's Tony Pua and Zaid Ibrahim, but was eventually thrown out by the Court of Appeal.

Regardless, Faiz believes that young Malaysians are cognisant of Najib’s alleged wrongdoings and the need for a change in government.

"The youth have a negative perception of BN. I am very sure they understand what is happening to our country, and are willing to make the change," he said.

Working with allies

Faiz acknowledges, however, that the absence of PAS – frequently a mainstay of opposition alliances in the past – will be felt by Harapan.

Nevertheless, he believes that the Islamist party’s current strategy of heading into the polls without their traditional allies will bring about their own undoing.

This is why, he said, his late father continually thought about how to attract non-Muslim votes.

"If you look back to 1999, PAS had its best showing. It obtained 27 parliamentary seats when it contested with PKR and other opposition parties.

"When the opposition was split, PAS only managed to retain seven seats in 2004. In 2008, PAS managed to win 23, and 21 in 2013.”

This shows, he says, that what Malaysians want is to see political parties that are able to govern and come up with good policies that benefit the rakyat, regardless of race or religion.

As such, PAS’ “treachery” in splitting up the Pakatan alliance, he claimed, would result in non-Muslims abandoning the party completely, which will result in a trouncing at the polls.

On the party being seen to cosy up to Umno since the split, Faiz recalled his late father's famous adage that when an enemy is suddenly nice to you, something is amiss.

And with PAS apparently being given more airtime on pro-government media outlets like Utusan Malaysia and TV3, he claimed, even those who stayed behind in PAS after the formation of Amanah will now be able to see this.