opinion

For three years they have been working in cohesion in Keadilan. But with party election to come in November, the three factions within the party are no longer in a compromising mood. These former Umno members and co-members of the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) and Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) are now jockeying for positions in the party.

Sources in Keadilan described it as a "struggle" between the progressive and the conservative in the party. And the months leading up to the decision by the NGO factions to contest have seen both supporters and detractors shift into noisy overdrive.

"They now have few agreements about the major issues. Each faction is hoping to gain political control by winning the party election," he said.

The situation now reflects members' deep divisions over a series of setbacks suffered by the party this year: DAP's pullout from Barisan Alternatif (BA) last month, deputy president Dr Chandra Muzaffar's refusal to seek a re-election, the resignation of Keadilan vice-chairperson Hamdan Taha last month and the pending PRM-Keadilan merger.

A split has been developing for some time in the ranks of Keadilan - between the former Umno members and NGO members in the party. This explains why the party could not break through the two-third majority barrier to amend the party's constitution to facilitate the Keadilan-PRM merger.

The bitter leadership battle is threatening to split the party into similar proportions, with Abim and JIM as the (major) rivals to former Umno members.

Abim claimed to have played a prominent role in the formation of Keadilan. To preserve its non-partisan image, Abim leaders did not hold party positions, but the movement has maintained a close relationship with Keadilan.

But, because Abim's members make up a significant portion of the party delegates, the movement has a rather strong hold on the party.

Abim supporters are against amendments to party constitution proposed by the PRM, especially to change the position of Islam - from Islam as "a way of life", to Islam as a "state official religion", as in the federal constitution. Instead, they prefer PRM to be dissolved and its members to join Keadilan.

"Other than being one of the longest surviving opposition party, PRM does not have track record to back its claim that it enjoyed significant support among voters," the sources said.

Milestone

Whether or not their gamble pays off this time, will in large part be decided at this election. The decision will be a milestone in the young party's future.

The underlying tensions are likely to continue causing political uncertainty, possibly leading to the "final showdown" between the major factions.

One of the clearest fault lines is over the pace and nature of reform. As Keadilan seeks to affirm its 'credentials' as an anchor of BA, a fragmented domestic political scene has become fertile ground for new political friction fueled by long-standing grievances over party leadership.

It reflects clearly how the party has changed since the last general election in 1999 and a significant split within the party, which was a closely guarded secret, is now out in the open.

The intensity of the debate means that the new leadership will have its hands full whichever faction wins. In short, Keadilan appears to be in the midst of a painful process of 'maturing'.

Although the present leadership has rejected claims of internal splits as fabrications and distortions, we will just have to wait and see. Even after the polls have decided who should be at the top, there are still plenty of tea leaves that should be read.

NASH RAHMAN is a senior analyst in Strategic Analysis Malaysia (SAM) which produces a subscription-based website on Malaysian politics.