Wawasan ini parti apa sebenarnya?

The Malaysian political landscape, particularly amidst the formation of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, has sparked discussions about PAS's role and Wawasan's true affiliation. Malaysiakini reported on comments by PAS member Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamil, who expressed displeasure with the title Malaysiakini used for their report.

Fayhsal denied any intention of replacing PAS or claiming PAS had failed in its efforts. PAS has historically sought support from non-Malay and non-Islamic communities, acknowledging the necessity of such backing for national governance since 1956. Throughout the 1998-2008 period, PAS enjoyed significant backing from the Chinese community under leadership of Fadzil Noor and Nik Aziz Nik Mat, despite taking moderate stances.

This period saw PAS attract a notable non-Malay, non-Islamic following, especially during times of electoral setbacks against the Barisan Alternatif and Pakatan Rakyat. However, the party's recent image shift towards hardline Islamists has led to alienation among non-Malay, non-Islamic voters. Despite this, current PAS leadership continues to take actions that concern non-Malay, non-Islamic groups, albeit within the framework of supporting PN.

Wawasan, described as not merely a clone of PAS but sharing its spirit, aims to supplement PAS within PN through the creation of a new multi-ethnic and multi-religious party. While Wawasan is seen as a branch of the larger PAS organization, it aims to operate independently without questioning PAS's authority. Consequently, even if Wawasan attempts to address PAS's perceived shortcomings, it cannot or will not prevent PAS from pursuing actions that some find undesirable.

Ultimately, Wawasan seeks to establish itself as a Malaysian party rather than a multiracial one, reflecting Malaysia's diverse ethnic and religious makeup. The author's perspective on Wawasan differs from that of FMT.