PAS ambil masa 5-10 tahun lagi tawan pengundi, kata Shahril

Former Umno spokesperson Shahril Hamdan has stated that PAS will use the opportunity to provide more experience to its leaders, as well as familiarize their civil servants and voters with the party within the government. PETALING JAYA: PAS may be prepared to wait five to ten years before seriously assuming the country's top leadership, according to Shahril Hamdan.

Recently, PAS and Umno discussed cooperation ahead of the PRN Melaka, with PAS envisioning openness in competition under the Barisan Nasional (BN) banner. Last week, Mursyidul Am PAS Hashim Jasin said that the PAS-Umno partnership's achievement in PRN Melaka would be a significant step towards expanding its reach in PRU16, as reported by Utusan Malaysia.

Speaking in an audio segment of Keluar Sekejap, Shahril said PAS and Umno are moving based on different timelines, with Umno focusing on winning power now while PAS appears more ready to wait. He added that PAS may be ready to join the government without demanding a number one position outright, using the opportunity to give its leaders more experience and familiarize the public and civil servants with the party's face in a government.

Shahril emphasized that becoming familiar is more important, familiarizing the nation with PAS' face doesn't need to be feared. He noted that PAS, aware of some voters still viewing it as too extreme, lacking in scholarship, and lacking skilled technocrats to manage right-hand departments, will take several election cycles to change that perception gradually.

And this transition might take five to ten years, he said. He has already seen a shift in perception in conversations with professional Malays, who previously regarded Umno as the simpler Malay party but now see PAS as a viable option on the ballot. However, columnist Zaidel Baharuddin raises questions about why PAS does not highlight one of its leaders more prominently as a candidate for prime minister, and why PAS President Wawasan Hamzah Zainudin, allowed to remain in his prominent role, including as party leader.