By Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 – PAS delegates slammed Dr Abdul Aziz Bari (pic) for criticising the party leadership but the UIA law professor remained unrepentant, arguing that his criticism was constructive.
Abdul Aziz courted controversy last month with an article published in Sinar Harian and stirred it further today when he asked why PAS members wanted to be close to Umno.
He had criticised the PAS leadership, which he saw aligned to president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, for allegedly pushing a merger with Umno.
The academic’s views formed the basis for PAS spiritual adviser, Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, to pursue an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in an attempt to cleanse the party of “problematic” leaders, but which was replaced with today’s seminar.
Delegates present from all over the country loudly denounced Abdul Aziz as an “Umno agent” for publicly raising the issue of a “unity government” once again.
They repeatedly pressed the constitutional expert to reveal his sources for the allegations, noting that Abdul Hadi had this morning stressed that PAS is committed to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) struggle to depose the ruling coalition and had shut the door on any more “unity” talks.
“Where did you get information to say that the president does not get along with Lim Kit Siang and Anwar Ibrahim?” a woman delegate asked, referring to the DAP and PKR leaders respectively.
The three opposition parties had joined forces after gaining major inroads among voters in the March 8 elections last year and had recently handed in their application to the Registrar of Societies to formalise their coalition.
Another delegate went further and called Abdul Aziz an “agent of the West” for forcing the concept of a two-party system on them.
The man, who did not identify himself, also likened the IIU don to an “agen nafsu”, which translates to a man with his own ulterior motives, for stirring up discord within PAS.
He received loud support from the floor, with cries of “Takbir!” and “Allahuakbar!”
Abdul Aziz took the verbal attacks in stride and explained that his criticism should be read constructively.
He added that he was only trying to stir the party’s imagination towards strengthening itself ahead of the next general election.
“Think for yourselves,” he advised.
“I did not insult the president or even mention his personal life. I only mentioned his post as the captain of this team,” he countered.
Likening the current political situation to a football match, Abdul Aziz claimed that he had the right as a “paying spectator” to comment.
Not all delegates found his views repugnant, judging from the way they leapt to his defence.
A woman delegate commended him for his willingness to share his bold views openly. She suggested that the leaders should note down his ideas because views from the grassroots which were conveyed through the proper party channels did not always gain traction.
Another delegate asked the rest of his partymen to keep an open mind and not take Abdul Aziz’s comments to heart.
“We must change. Medicine is usually bitter while food which taste sweet are the causes of sickness,” the young man said.
But many others remained unconvinced.
Two delegates from the Federal Territory slammed Abdul Aziz for failing to back up his allegations, unlike his fellow panellist, Universiti Malaya (UM) analyst, Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah.
Abu Hassan had presented a detailed report predicting the future outcome of PAS based on a study carried out among 2,000 people.
“The more important thing now is to strengthen the party. Abu Hassan’s research will be good for our party,” said one man from the Kepong division.
The UM don’s survey results, backed by hard statistics, found greater favour among the delegates even though he shared the same ideas with Abdul Aziz.
Abu Hassan said that PAS must carry out serious reforms now if it wants to win the next general election.
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