Saturday May 2, 2009
‘Ulamak’ must hold top PAS posts, says scholars
By SYED AZHAR
KOTA BARU: PAS’ council of Islamic scholars wants the two top posts in the party to be held by the alim ulamak (learned men in Islamic studies).
This was to ensure the continuity of the party’s policies of setting up an Islamic country, said the Dewan Ulamak chief Datuk Mohamed Daud Iraqi.
“The men are to play a pivotal role to provide advice and to make sure the Islamic approach is the basis of the party’s direction,” he said in an interview.
According to him, it was important that the president and deputy president posts be helmed by the ulamak.
“An ulamak must be chosen for the two top posts and there is no two ways about it,” Mohamed said.
He said they should “follow the Islamic approach to the hilt,” citing leaders from Islamic history who were ulamak.
“And then we had a leader like Yazid Muawiyah who did things that were against Islam, resulting in civil unrest. This is the outcome of having a leader who isn’t an ulamak.”
Thus, Mohamed said the ulamak must be given priority although non-ulamak were also vying for such posts, he said, referring to the campaigning for the June party election where there could be a possible tussle for the deputy president’s post.
For the other posts, Mohamed said it did not matter whether the intellectuals or professionals or even modernists took them up.
Five names have surfaced as likely contenders for the deputy president’s post – incumbent Nasharud-din Mat Isa, PAS vice-presidents Datuk Husam Musa and Mohammad Sabu, Kedah PAS commissioner Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak and Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hassan Ali.
Of the five, only Husam has yet to state whether he would be vying for it, saying that the party’s direction was now doubtful following the “secret” meeting between PAS and Umno early this year.
Mohamed said Nasharuddin and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang were learned men but if there were better ones, the delegates could make a change.
Mohamed also said that he would relinquish his duty as the council chief at the coming PAS general assembly due to his age.
“There are other capable leaders like Datuk Haron Taib (PAS central committee member) and Datuk Ahmad Yakob (Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar) to take over,” he added.
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