By Adib Zalkapli - theMalaysianinsider
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 - A truce is being declared in the ongoing struggle between rival factions in Pas, as the Islamist party tries to select a candidate for the crucial Kuala Terengganu by-election next month.
Key moderates from the pro-Anwar Ibrahim faction known as the Erdogans, so named because of the Opposition Leader's close links with the Turkish leader, have declared their support for whichever candidate is chosen to contest the seat.
Despite the endorsement of party spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, moderate Mohamed Sabu faces an uphill battle in getting selected as the Pas candidate because he is not a local.
The Malaysian Insider understands that top on the list of candidates now is Wan Mutalib Embong, the Terengganu Pas deputy chief, who was earlier speculated to contest the Kuala Terengganu seat during the March 8 election but was replaced with Mohamad Sabu, who lost narrowly.
The party's top leadership, controlled by the conservative ulama faction, is also considering another candidate proposed by the state youth wing, a yet to be named PhD holder.
"The post mortem conducted after the general election shows that voters are not inclined to support outsiders," said a Pas source who ruled out the possibility of Mohamad being chosen
His sentiment was shared by Terengganu Pas Youth chief Azman Shapawi.
"We want a local and a young candidate to contest the seat," Azman told The Malaysian Insider adding that the party may not win comfortably if an outsider is fielded.
During the last election Pas won three out of four state seats in the constituency. For the federal seat, Pas garnered 2,000 fewer votes compared with the total it obtained for the state seats and BN won by a majority of 628 votes.
For PKR strategist Saifuddin Nasution choosing a candidate is not only tough for Pas but also for Umno.
He said the late Datuk Razali Ismail, the man who narrowly edged out Mohamed and who died late last month had set a very high benchmark.
"He was a very popular MP, serving his constituents regardless of political affiliation. And he had a good track record as the state education director making him popular among the teachers," said the Machang MP.
As for Pas, he said that it is not the time for the party to introduce political unknowns.
"With a campaigning period of nine or 10 days it will be an impossible task to introduce an unknown to 80,000 voters. It will be difficult to hold public rallies with the unpredictable weather," said Saifuddin who visited the constituency last weekend to prepare the PKR machinery for the by-election.
"We need a national figure who most of the voters can relate to," he told The Malaysian Insider while mentioning names such as Wan Mutalib, Pas election director Datuk Mustafa Ali and Batu Burok assemblyman Dr Syed Azman Nawawi as likely candidates.
Apart from the choice of candidate he said that Pas is fully prepared for the by-election at the constituency where PKR's presence is sporadic.
During his short visit he addressed a ceramah kelompok in the Batu Burok area, attended by more than 60 people, a relatively high number for a mini rally and a clear sign that election fever is in the air.
For Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, a moderate who was dropped from the Selangor Pas committee after a recent reshuffle, said the disagreement between him and the state Pas chief Datuk Hasan Ali would not affect the preparation for election.
"My differences with him only involves management style and priorities, there is no major split in the party," claimed Khalid.
He told The Malaysian Insider that the party's choice of candidate would be made based on winnability and not any perceived affiliation to factions.
The party's top leadership, controlled by the conservative ulama faction, is also considering another candidate proposed by the state youth wing, a yet to be named PhD holder.
"The post mortem conducted after the general election shows that voters are not inclined to support outsiders," said a Pas source who ruled out the possibility of Mohamad being chosen
His sentiment was shared by Terengganu Pas Youth chief Azman Shapawi.
"We want a local and a young candidate to contest the seat," Azman told The Malaysian Insider adding that the party may not win comfortably if an outsider is fielded.
During the last election Pas won three out of four state seats in the constituency. For the federal seat, Pas garnered 2,000 fewer votes compared with the total it obtained for the state seats and BN won by a majority of 628 votes.
For PKR strategist Saifuddin Nasution choosing a candidate is not only tough for Pas but also for Umno.
He said the late Datuk Razali Ismail, the man who narrowly edged out Mohamed and who died late last month had set a very high benchmark.
"He was a very popular MP, serving his constituents regardless of political affiliation. And he had a good track record as the state education director making him popular among the teachers," said the Machang MP.
As for Pas, he said that it is not the time for the party to introduce political unknowns.
"With a campaigning period of nine or 10 days it will be an impossible task to introduce an unknown to 80,000 voters. It will be difficult to hold public rallies with the unpredictable weather," said Saifuddin who visited the constituency last weekend to prepare the PKR machinery for the by-election.
"We need a national figure who most of the voters can relate to," he told The Malaysian Insider while mentioning names such as Wan Mutalib, Pas election director Datuk Mustafa Ali and Batu Burok assemblyman Dr Syed Azman Nawawi as likely candidates.
Apart from the choice of candidate he said that Pas is fully prepared for the by-election at the constituency where PKR's presence is sporadic.
During his short visit he addressed a ceramah kelompok in the Batu Burok area, attended by more than 60 people, a relatively high number for a mini rally and a clear sign that election fever is in the air.
For Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, a moderate who was dropped from the Selangor Pas committee after a recent reshuffle, said the disagreement between him and the state Pas chief Datuk Hasan Ali would not affect the preparation for election.
"My differences with him only involves management style and priorities, there is no major split in the party," claimed Khalid.
He told The Malaysian Insider that the party's choice of candidate would be made based on winnability and not any perceived affiliation to factions.
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