Calling the shots or jumping the gun? PAS rounds up congress, pushes back against ally Bersatu

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PAS president Hadi Awang (left) suggested those aged above 70 like himself and former PM Muhyiddin Yassin should no longer be gunning to be prime minister.

PHOTO: ST FILE

Summary

• PN faces internal conflict as PAS and Bersatu vie for dominance and the PM candidate role for the next general election.
• PAS is challenging Bersatus leadership, proposing its own PM candidate and greater control within PN, leveraging its larger parliamentary presence.
• PAS is seeking more influence on electoral decisions, such as demanding the lions share of seats to contest.

AI generated

ALOR SETAR – Malaysia’s Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) wrapped up its annual congress on Sept 16 with a bold call for leadership change in the opposition bloc, as its leaders signalled readiness to take a bigger role in national politics.

The four-day event saw the Islamist party’s 3,000 delegates endorse resolutions positioning PAS as the natural leader of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition coalition, to reflect its place in the pecking order above coalition ally Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

This has raised the possibility of a showdown with Bersatu, especially on the issue of

PN’s prime ministerial candidate for the general election

PAS president Hadi Awang and his deputy Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had insisted the focus of Malaysia’s largest party was on ensuring PN wins this