PAS perlu umum calon PM sebelum PRU16, bukan tunggu menang

PAS should introduce the potential candidate for Prime Minister before the 2016 General Election so voters can assess the ability of future leaders of the nation, according to an analyst. Syaza Shukri, from Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia, said PAS may only announce the candidate if Perikatan Nasional (PN) wins and the coalition agrees to give the position of Prime Minister to their representative.

She told FMT that PAS does not want to be too hasty, but voters have the right to know who will lead the country if they vote for the party.

Syaza does not expect PAS to announce its own candidate in the near future, and the potential candidates may come from the Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan) or Umno. However, she believes there is still time for PAS to announce its candidate. Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri from Global Asia Consulting said that federal elections differ from state elections as voters not only choose a party but also want to know who will lead the nation.

He said an announcement too early could spark internal rivalry within PAS and annoy discussions with other PN members. However, if too late, PAS risks losing the opportunity to build a profile of its candidate as a national leader. "The candidate for Prime Minister is not a name on a poster after winning. He must be the answer to the people's questions before the vote is given," he said.

Syahir previously cited examples from Terengganu, Kedah, Kelantan, and Perlis, which PAS led, and stressed that they were elected based on their qualifications and ability, not because they demanded the position. However, Zaharuddin said having experience as a chief minister does not automatically make someone a convincing candidate for Prime Minister, as leadership at the federal level requires skills in managing the economy, political discourse, and the broader community.

He said PAS does not need to announce the candidate immediately, but it must set a reasonable timeline for doing so. Syaza's view on the decision depends on the consensus within PN.