The Malaysian Insight

INTERNAL party conflicts and strained ties between the menteri besar and Terengganu palace are factors that can derail PAS’ chances of defending the state in the next general election, said party insiders.

They told The Malaysian Insight that the palace’s relationship with Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is so strained that it nearly revoked his “Datuk Seri” title.

They said Samsuri is out of touch with state matters and is instead targeting a position in the federal cabinet if Perikatan Nasional wins the next general election.

The situation was so bad that Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation and Kuala Terengganu MP Ahmad Amzad Hashim had to be asked to be a mediator to ease the tension between Samsuri and the palace, said a source.

“Ahmad Samsuri’s relationship with the palace is cold due to several issues. He is seen as not good at maintaining relations with the palace,” said a state PAS leader.

“The palace now sees the Islamist party as facing problems in governing Terengganu, especially the menteri besar, who is now more focused on matters in the federal government.”

Other PAS sources also confirmed the menteri besar’s agenda in wanting a move to Putrajaya.

A local leader said Samsuri’s team is seeking a suitable parliamentary seat for him to contest in the 15th general election.

Among those considered is the Kuala Terengganu seat won by Amzad in the 2018 election, said the source.

“It is possible that Ahmad Amzad will give up his seat for Ahmad Samsuri,” he said.

Sources said the move to a federal seat is being planned because Samsuri has no grassroots support.

“He is seen as a top PAS leader because of his background as a former political secretary to PAS president (Abdul Hadi Awang). He is not a leader from the grassroots,” said the source.

Samsuri’s strength is due to the influence of PAS president and former menteri besar Hadi.

“That is why he lacks grassroots support. He can only expect support from Hadi, who trusts him,” said the source.

“This was seen when Hadi gave the Rhu Rendang state seat, a PAS safe seat, to Ahmad Samsuri in GE14.”

None of the sources were willing to be named as they feared repercussions.

Split in state PAS

The sources also revealed that Hadi’s decision to place Samsuri in the Rhu Rendang seat and to be named as the menteri besar after PAS had won the state in GE14 has caused dissatisfaction among local leaders.

“Because it was Hadi that made the decision, no one dared to object,” said a local leader.

He also said the dissatisfaction among the local leaders continued, especially when Samsuri is seen making many decisions on his own, with no consultation with other PAS leaders.

These local leaders, among others, are angry when Samsuri prioritised outsiders for political appointments involving Terengganu state agencies.

The source said the move in giving political appointments to these outsiders is what has led to the crisis in Terengganu PAS and caused the movement to split into three groups.

“There is indeed an internal crisis in Terengganu PAS,” he said.

“There are three groups in the state, namely the menteri besar’s camp and the two camps of senior state PAS leaders Satiful Bahri Mamat and Khairuddin Aman Razali.”

He said Satiful, who is the state executive councillor for Shariah Implementation, Education and Higher Education, was among the names mentioned to fill the menteri besar’s post during GE14.

“However, that did not happen because Hadi had picked Ahmad Samsuri,” he said.

The source said Khairuddin, who wanted to be menteri besar, is also seen as ambitious. He now holds a top position in the party and is a federal minister.

“This was seen when Khairuddin was picked to be a minister by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and this surprised the party members),” he said.

“That is why he is seen as an ambitious leader, and in the context of Terengganu politics, he was given four positions in state government-linked companies.”

The source said the rift between Samsuri and Khairuddin became wider as the former is in favour of ties with Bersatu to remain in Perikatan Nasional while the latter prefers Umno and Muafakat Nasional.

Khairuddin, who is also the head of the PAS Ulama Council, was hit by several controversies, including allegedly violating the quarantine standard operating procedures (SOPs) last August.

The incident caused public outrage as he was seen to have got off lightly after being fined RM1,000.

Last month, Khairuddin was once again embroiled in controversy when he was allegedly detained at a roadblock in Perasing with a woman.

Khairuddin denied the allegation even though Terengganu police confirmed that the minister was stopped at the roadblock.

The minister is also currently facing a scandal of selling land belonging to the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB), which is allegedly leased to a PAS foundation at a much lower fee than the market price.

Watch out for grassroots

Political analyst Mohamad Hisomuddin Bakar did not dismiss the fact that the internal crises will result in PAS being in power in Terengganu for only one term.

He said the internal issues will cause some resentment at the grassroots level.

Hisomuddin said the crisis in the menteri besar’s leadership and the cold relationship with the palace could lead to sabotage by ordinary PAS members.

“The punishment can come from ordinary PAS members if they are not satisfied with the performance of the menteri besar,” said Hisomuddin, who is the director of Ilham Centre.

“This had happened before when PAS lost the Terengganu election in 2004.”

As for PAS internal divisions, Hisomuddin said history could repeat itself when previously a group of professionals were removed from the PAS leadership, resulting in them forming a splinter party.

“For me, it is like the internal conflict of PAS 2.0. In the past, professional groups were removed from PAS and they went on to form Amanah, but they are still clashes,” he said.

“It’s just that this time around it is more for personal political interests and it is a different test for the PAS leadership.” – June 8, 2021.