IN the run-up to PAS party elections at the end of this year, PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, has brushed aside detractors’ views that the party’s president Tan Sri Hadi Awang ought to be replaced by a younger, healthier and perhaps less radical successor.
In fact, the Alor Setar MP found it “quite hilarious if not ridiculous” that such call was made at a time when PAS has its best election outing” as evident by “having most seats in the Dewan Rakyat; having formed governments in four states; and having representatives in almost all state legislative assemblies”.
“It’s quite funny that he (Hadi) scored excellent marks yet all of a sudden, there were calls urging for his resignation,” lamented Afnan on the PAS Youth Facebook page.
Instead of training their guns at the seven-term Marang MP, Afnan reckoned that such analysts should have criticised UMNO and PKR “given both parties performed very poorly in comparison to PAS”.
“Most surprisingly, even though UMNO and PKR obtained low marks in the elections (ie the 15th General Election), UMNO has passed a motion of no contest for the positions of its president and deputy president,” chided Afnan.
“Meanwhile, PKR is contemplating taking the same measure of not contesting the position of its president.
“It’s unbelievable that both parties refuse to replace their heads despite scoring low marks. This is what the analyst should be analysing and criticising.”
On the contrary, Afnan pointed out that even though PAS scored high marks in both the national and state polls, the Islamist party “has its door opened for any member to contest for the positions of president and deputy president”.
“There has never been a proposal that both positions should not be contested,” asserted the PAS lawmaker.
“As such, political analysts should analyse with academic values and fair objectivity. People respect such analysts more than analysts who merely suck up to their paymasters.”
Added Afnan: “As for Amanah, I prefer not to discuss about the party as I heard that its youth wing is more comfortable having a dialogue with a flowerpot. Please continue to do so. That’s what they’re most qualified to do.” – Feb 17, 2025
