Projecting PAS' professional face

Projecting PAS' professional face

Helen Ang | Mar 6, 08 12:49pm

It was a bad time to catch the busy Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi for an interview. The Election Commission had earlier in the day announced it was erasing the indelible ink plan. Dr Azman is a member of the steering committee for Bersih (the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections) and the eleventh hour turnaround greatly troubled him. He reacted to the breaking news forcefully: "All along we’ve said that the EC and EC chairman [Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman] are basically ‘kuda tunggangan’ (being manipulated by) Umno, just a tool of the Barisan Nasional. And this election, I believe really is the dirtiest – a sham election, a sham democracy that we have. I mean it’s so shameful that this is happening." On the last minute reversal, Dr Azman said: "All along the EC has maintained that they’ve spent millions of ringgit to buy the indelible ink and tested it, and having Press conference and things like that. And on the eve of the polling day, just a few days, this pullout is so irresponsible, and compounded by the stamping [stamp duty requirement U-turn on nomination day]". I asked him what his party intends to do. "We have to soldier on. We have to fight on to create more awareness among Malaysian citizens. So we have Bersih and we in the steering committee have committed ourselves, win or lose in this coming election, we will continue the struggle of Bersih." He added that Bersih had already earlier sent a letter to the Yang diPertuan Agong calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into this election, in anticipation of irregularities in the processes. And PAS issued a Press release anticipating an influx of outsiders into Terengganu and Kelantan while giving "a stern warning" that party cadres were vigilant against impostors and would affect a citizen’s arrest if necessary. "We’ve had enough of these phantom voters, postal votes, cheating and one-sided affairs," said Dr Azman. "In Terengganu, 100, 200 postal votes is a big factor". He has cause to be wary as PAS’ Wan Mutalib Embong the previous Batu Buruk state assemblyman – where Dr Azman is contesting – had won it by a majority of 140 votes. In 2004, the constituency registered 24,022 voters, 98% Malay. This time around, Dr Azman will be facing off Senator Nordiana Shafie standing on the Umno ticket. PM and Islam Hadhari "The PM has stated that your action in tearing up the EC chairman’s picture is extremely ‘biadab’," I noted. "What’s your reaction to that?" "Well, I think the PM is more ‘biadab’ when he ‘memenjarakan’ (jailed) those who voice their opposition. And basically what we did is proven [vindicated] in the way Rashid is handling the election itself. He’s irresponsible, he’s not done his job, he’s not transparent, he’s one-sided and basically he speaks the mouth of the Umno leaders." Does Dr Azman see Islam Hadhari promulgated by the PM as lying within the Islamic state framework? He replied: "Well, Islam Hadhari is just propaganda by Umno to counter PAS’ Islamic programme. Basically, that’s the only theme of Umno to have this Islam Hadhari. So they’re trying to portray that they’re more Islamic than PAS. They don’t have the sincerity at all in it [for] truly implementing the true Islamic teachings." What then PAS’s idea of the Islamic state? "Let’s look beyond that [slogan], you know. The past is the past. PAS is a dynamic party. We’re not trying to portray it [Islamic state] in a narrow perspective. We’re looking in a wide range of issues. There’s no point in debating about an Islamic state on narrow issues. "We want the people to realise that Islamic state is not just hudud. Islamic state is basically you do away with corruption, we don’t want corrupt leaders, [we want] transparent judiciary, free and fair election; it’s a democratic state." But does the public perceive it as such given that the party is steadfast in its non-secular agenda, I questioned. "Well, that is the problem that we’re facing because Umno’s propaganda day and night trying to portray us – if you vote for PAS, equals to Islamic state and equals to hudud." What can the party do to counter the negative portrayal, I asked. "PAS came out with the manifesto of Negara Kebajikan (welfare state). This has basically given a new perception to the Malaysian public and we got all sorts of positive response from [people from] all walks of life. So that’s why Umno has to counter almost every day to answer the issues of Negara Kebajikan." Injecting young blood At 46, Dr Azman is rather young when put alongside his party’s top echelon of ustaz, and moreover holds a doctorate in political science from Birmingham University. Does PAS see him as a poster boy to project an urbane, professional image, I wanted to know. He replies without hesitation, "Oh yes, for sure" adding that he is head of international affairs in the party. "And one more thing, this is a very important post because we handle a lot of diplomatic circles, locally and also internationally. I do a lot of travelling, overseas. Almost every month I travel abroad to meet up with some of the foreign governments and also NGOs, and some of the civil societies they have a lot programmes and they invite us to give a talk." Since the party appears to be trying to shed its orthodox image, I was curious about the role of women. "Very important," he replied. "They’re now playing a very pivotal role and working hand in hand with the men in PAS. For the past five to 10 years, we’ve been expanding their role, especially for the young, intellectual women in PAS," elaborating that they are highly qualified in the professional fields but working in the civil service, and thus required to be "behind the scenes". In Terengganu, it is local issues – such as the dissatisfaction with mega projects snagged by ‘Patrick Badawi’ – which are more pertinent to the electorate than national issues. So I asked if Dr Azman was a local boy. "I was born not far from here [his operations centre in Kuala Ibai where we met up], in Jalan Tekukur two, three kilometres away." Incidentally, Batu Buruk was put on the map last year when police was high-handed in its action dispersing a Bersih ceramah held there. Dr Azman said police shooting two PAS sympathisers created a lot of public awareness of rights to freedom of speech and assembly, as well as anger, and sympathy for the victims and for PAS. He explained: "Basically I’m a reluctant candidate to contest for DUN (state assembly) because I’m more comfortable to contest the Parliamentary seat and I’ve been handling the party’s international affairs, so a lot of my time has been spent in KL and also internationally." Dr Azman said his candidacy switch from Parliament to state legislature was at PAS’s behest and also due to its strategic planning. "I know that it’s very important, we’re looking not only this election but beyond this election for someone else (younger) to take over the party’s leadership in Terengganu. In that case, what does he see as his immediate challenge should he come to office. "Well, the challenge is great, the expectation of voters are great. It’s not just in Batu Buruk. The people in Terengganu want to have … I mean, they expect so much from me, especially the younger generation. The support that I’m getting is overwhelming. "So basically, I have to serve the people, not just in Batu Buruk, but the whole Terengganu; bringing a better Terengganu to the people of Terengganu."