Ulama must continue to lead PAS, says spiritual leader

FMT:

Ulama must continue to lead PAS, says spiritual leader


Hashim Jasin says the party must continue to be led by a religious scholar to ensure it does not deviate from its direction

PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin said even though Abdul Hadi Awang is in less than optimal health, the 77-year-old is still very much needed by the party’s leaders and grassroots.

PETALING JAYA: PAS’s ulama faction must continue to lead the party as they can ensure its direction remains aligned with its core Islamic principles, says PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin.

Despite recognising the valuable contributions by technocrats and professionals, Hashim said that ulamas, or religious scholars, should remain at the helm of the party’s leadership.

“We are not denying the role of professionals, in fact, they are still important within the party structure,” he told Mingguan Malaysia.


“But to ensure the party’s direction does not deviate, PAS must be led by an ulama.”

Hashim said even though PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is in less than optimal health, the 77-year-old is still very much needed by the party’s leaders and grassroots.


Hadi has led PAS since June 2002 and is serving his seventh term as MP for Marang. His health has declined in recent years, and he has been admitted to hospital several times.

While party leaders insist that Hadi remains central to PAS’s identity and strength, questions about succession have repeatedly been raised in recent years because of his declining health.

On Friday, Hadi said he wanted “to die while still in office” when asked to comment on rumours that he wished to step down from his post because of health issues.

In February, a PAS source told FMT the party was likely to hold a contest for its top two posts at its elections in September for the first time in a decade.


Hashim said Hadi’s determination to continue steering the party demonstrates his resilience and standing as a respected and principled leader.


“He can still give views based on shariah. That is the kind of leader we need in PAS,” he said.

***

kt remarks:

Malaysia must enact a law to prohibit political parties from misusing religions for their political ends - in other words there shall be no political parties based on religions.