The Malaysian Insight

PAS has scored big with the appointment of its vice-president Idris Ahmad to the post of religious affairs minister, analysts said, adding that the party now has the chance to prove its commitment to its Islamic ideology.

Until last year when it joined the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, PAS had never tasted federal power since its founding in the 1950s.

Under new Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government, it now has a chance to show whether it can implement the Islamic agenda it has always used in trying to woo Malay-Muslim voters, or if the reality of coalition politics in a multi-religious society will prove difficult. 

Having never having governed at federal level, PAS’ weakness is a lack of clarity on how to achieve its goals and translate its intentions into results, said Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia president Dr Mohd Parid Sheikh Ahmad.

PAS is often ambiguous on policy details and lacks the know-how to craft clear policies, he added.

“The performance of PAS in the PN government was unsatisfactory.

“PAS should explain its agenda and its implementation plan. I don’t see this. That is what it lacks.

“In Islamic law, we need to have fiqh (theory) about reality, we need to understand what is the reality we are facing, then only can we come up with a solution or policy.

“But PAS lacks leaders who can do this; they can’t analyse things accurately, and they are out of touch with reality,” Parid said.

PAS has only governing experience at state level in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. Although Kelantan and Terengganu are the Islamist party’s strongholds, it has had a poor track record of improving economic progress and treating citizens fairly.

For PAS, the amendment of the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (RUU 355) to allow stiffer Islamic law penalties would be its chief ambition.

The amendments would increase the limits for shariah penalties. Prison sentences would be a maximum 30 years, instead of three presently; fines would be raised from RM5,000 to RM100,000; and caning would be increased from six lashes to 100.

PAS’ previous attempts to have the bill tabled and debated in Parliament, have remained inconclusive. 

When a motion by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to introduce a private member’s bill on the amendments managed to get listed for second reading in March 2018, the Dewan Rakyat was adjourned before the motion could be debated.

PAS didn’t make any progress on the issue despite being in federal power last year under the PN government, forcing party leaders to give assurance that PAS had never abandoned its goal of having RUU355 amended.

The party has also had difficulty in getting support for RUU355 from Barisan Nasional.

Among the PAS grassroots, however, Idris’ appointment as religious affairs minister is a sign of success.

Kedah PAS committee member Mohd Hilmi Abdul Wahab said it is just what PAS needs to implement its agenda, including RUU355.

Even so, Hilmi acknowledged it won’t be easy.

“Although PAS is fighting for this issue, we are still governed by the federal constitution, whereby any law or amendment needs to be tabled in Parliament.

“And if it is rejected by MPs, PAS cannot do anything, this is the challenge,” he said.

Apart from Idris, another new face from PAS is Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh who was appointed as the new deputy agriculture and food industries minister II.

Idris and Nik Muhammad Zawawi replace PAS’ quota in the cabinet after the removal of former plantation and commodities minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali and former agriculture deputy minister Che Abdullah Mat Nawi. 

Both Khairuddin and Che Abdullah had courted controversy during Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration.

Two other leaders from PAS that have been retained as ministers are party deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who remains environment and water minister, and PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, who has changed portfolios from parliament and law to energy and natural resources.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia lecturer Dr Mazlan Ali said with the appointment of a party leader as religious affairs minister, PAS cannot claim it no longer has power to implement its agenda.

“In the past, when pushing for various issues related to Islam, PAS could always give the excuse that it has no power. 

“But now that PAS is in the government and holds the religious portfolio, it has power related to the interests of Muslims, and the opportunity is wide open for the party,” Mazlan said. – September 6, 2021.