The Meteorological Department reported that Kedah would get 20 per cent more rain this month and next month because of the current northeast monsoon.
Evening downpours, followed by occasional thunderstorms, bring much-needed relief to Kedah folk, as it could get very hot in the afternoon.
However, the “weather” in the state Pas leadership is not so favourable. In fact, the temperature is rising, particularly in Pokok Sena.
On Sunday, Bukit Pinang Pas assemblyman Romani Wan Salin and the division committee members held a press conference to demand that its three-term member of parliament (MP) Datuk Mahfuz Omar leave the party.
Mahfuz is the sole Pas MP in Kedah after successfully defending his seat for the third term while the Pas-led Kedah government was defeated in the 13th General Election (GE).
Romani pulled no punches when he told the former Pas national information chief to quit the party as Mahfuz was no longer on the same wavelength as the party’s top leadership.
He alleged that Mahfuz had contravened the party’s constitution by badmouthing Pas while sharing a platform with other opposition parties.
“We are saddened and ashamed by his actions because he claimed he is representing us (Pas Pokok Sena), but we do not agree with what he said.”
The press conference was called a month after Romani and Pokok Sena division committee members took a bold move to stop Mahfuz from carrying out his duties as division chief.
The open battle between Pokok Sena Pas committee and their division chief may well suggest that the ulama-led Pas national leadership is exerting control ahead of its muktamar in Kedah this April.
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) political analyst Associate Professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said the Pokok Sena division committee members would have not resorted to such an open confrontation with Mahfuz, without the blessings of the national leadership.
“It is an open secret that Pas, Kedah included, is facing an internal power struggle between the ulama faction and sympathisers of former leaders who had left to form Parti Amanah Negara (PAN).
“I think the Pas leadership is embarking on a campaign to weed out the remaining supporters or sympathisers of the professional faction as it prepares for the next general election.”
Azizuddin said the crisis in Pokok Sena Pas was a reflection of the crisis in Kedah Pas as it tried to reconsolidate support from its members following the GE13 defeat and the exodus of those who had left to join PAN.
“There are Pas members who are discreetly supporting PAN, but still remain in the party due to various factors.
“Pas leadership is aware of this matter and it is not surprising that it is embarking on a campaign of an in-house clean-up.”
The threat of PAN influence is also beyond the members, as it is rumoured that a number of current Pas assemblymen are on the verge of crossing over to PAN, should they be dropped as party candidates in the next GE.
Pas currently holds nine state seats in Kedah, the largest among the opposition parties in the state.
Azizuddin said PAN still had yet to form a strong footing in Kedah, but the party was making progress, by riding on Parti Pribumi Bumiputera Bersatu’s (PPBM) aggressive campaign to woo supporters.
He said should Pas leadership decide to stand firm and reject cooperation with any parties collaborating with DAP and PAN for the next GE, Umno and Barisan Nasional would have a good chance of retaining the state due to split votes.
However, he said, this did not mean that Umno and BN could take things for granted, as was stressed by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah to party leaders and members.
“Although the opposition seems to be in disarray at the moment, anything can happen as we move closer to GE14. A sudden twist among the opposition parties may lead to a major swing among voters. Kedah experienced this in the GE12 when BN lost the state to Pas.
“PPBM and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will have some impact on the voting pattern but we have yet to see how strong it will be.
“This is quite tricky and BN should be wary of the challenges.”
Meanwhile, a political observer, who did not want to be named, said the mood among Pas and Umno
supporters was unpredictable with the establishment of PAN and PPBM.
“I have been talking to many Pas and Umno members but they are not saying much. So, it is quite hard to discern the voting pattern.
“Pas is establishing itself as the kingmaker in the next GE, but whether they are able to deliver the votes post-PAN era remains to be seen.”
Adie Suri Zulkefli is Kedah’s NST bureau chief