Hadi: I won't quit Pas, party won't leave PR

2009/11/08

By B. Suresh Ram, Suganthi Supramaniam and Shuhada Elis

KUALA LUMPUR: Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has declared that he will not leave the party and neither will his party leave Pakatan Rakyat.

Hadi said he was an elected leader whose responsibility was to the party.

"I was elected to lead Pas. I will not shirk this responsibility," he said at the closing of a party seminar at Pas headquarters in Gombak here.

He said a leader needed to have a professional attitude and accept criticism with an open heart even though it might hurt.

"Pas leaders are like football players. We need to be strong when faced with challenges.

"There may be sharp criticisms -- sack the captain, dismiss the coach and players and the like -- but we have not yet completed the first half.

"We are professional players, not kampung players."

Hadi has been increasingly criticised for his perceived soft stance on the Pas-Umno unity talks.

The anti-Hadi sentiments were further stoked by a recent article by International Islamic University Malaysia law lecturer Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari, branding Hadi as a "flip-flop leader who should be replaced".

Aziz's sentiments were echoed by party spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

The one-day seminar was held to pacify Nik Aziz who had demanded an extraordinary general meeting to weed out "problematic leaders" in Pas.

Nik Aziz had also made clear on his blog, www.blogtokguru.com, about his unhappiness and concern with the actions of these leaders, including Hadi.

The others are party vice-president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, secretary-general Mustafa Ali and Selangor Pas commissioner Datuk Hasan Ali.

All three were present at the seminar on "Strengthening the Party", attended by about 1,000 members and supporters.

Nik Aziz, who was admitted for observation to the National Heart Institute on Thursday for fatigue, made a brief appearance at the seminar but left immediately after Hadi's speech, citing health reasons.

Earlier, in his opening speech at the seminar, Hadi said Pas would remain within the PR fold and continue to play an active role in the loose partnership of opposition parties.

He noted that Pas' role in PR, as discussed and adopted at its two previous annual general meetings, stood unchanged.

Citing the party's electoral performances in the last general election and a string of subsequent by-elections, Hadi said the party would benefit more by being in PR.

"We have achieved all this without sacrificing our principles. We have a strong relationship but we are flexible and accept cooperation as our strategy."

Hadi said it was normal for the party to be criticised as it gained popularity.

Hadi described Pas as the most experienced political party in the country, one which had undergone various trials and tribulations since its inception.

He said Pas' biggest recent achievement was breaking down the party's barriers with non-Muslims through the establishment of the Pas Supporters Club.

Five resolutions were adopted at the seminar. They were to strengthen the PR coalition, to garner more support for Pas among non-Muslims, to strengthen the party at all levels, to be more youth-friendly, and to draw up an action plan to intensify the party's "Pas for All" campaign.