Nak ke Putrajaya, PAS perlu bentang peta jalan bina Malaysia

PAS must utilize its 72nd Muktamar to unveil a roadmap for building Malaysia if they successfully take over Putrajaya, rather than merely focusing on political cooperation for winning PRU16, according to analysts. While attention is expected to be on the relationship between PAS and Umno, the bigger issue is the party's governance style and what it wants to offer to the people, said Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri.

He stressed that the public wants to know PAS's stance on economics, education, productivity enhancement, job creation, technology and artificial intelligence utilization, and rural poverty management. Without explaining these aspects, political unity would only serve as a bridge to Putrajaya, not a roadmap for building Malaysia.

The Muktamar is set to take place from Sept 2 to 5 in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan, with a focus on Umno's incoming leader, summoned by the Islamic party. Umno also invited PAS's top leader to the Umno General Assembly (PAU2026) from Sept 9 to 12, seen as evidence of their cooperation leading up to PRU16. While the focus is on this development, political experts doubt a final decision on the unity's form will be made at the Muktamar, as issues like constituency allocation and electoral formula still need further discussion.

The size of PAS's capacity, the Four States Performance Index (SG4), is also expected to be a key focus, as it can serve as a benchmark for PAS to present an alternative governance model at the federal level. Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah can no longer be seen merely as territories to be preserved, but rather as showrooms displaying PAS's capabilities to the Malaysian people.

Achievements in these states need to be evaluated using indicators such as foreign investment, quality jobs, household income, productivity, education, infrastructure, and public service quality, said Zaharuddin. Afifi Abdul Razak from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) noted that the current SG4 performance is mixed and expected to be used by PAS leaders to maintain their governance credibility at the Muktamar.

He believes the Four States' performance will highlight progress despite facing national pressure. PAS leaders will likely emphasize a developing narrative of progress, even if pressured by the federal government, he added. Professionalism, not just a new face, is crucial, noted Sivamurugan Pandian. PAS must aggressively highlight more professionals and technocrats to expand support, especially among the middle class and urban voters.

Having professionals in PAS suggests the party wants to be seen as capable of national governance, but the challenge lies in ensuring they are given a say in forming the basis and decision-making process. Not just a token of openness, professionals in PAS should demonstrate the party's capacity for national leadership, he emphasized.

Among professionally-qualified PAS leaders are Deputy President Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who also heads Perikatan Nasional (PN), Senior Vice Chairman Takiyuddin Hassan, Finance Minister Iskandar Abdul Samad, and Deputy Secretary-General Haim Hilman Abdullah.