PAS’s contradictions of convenience

“Menyedari bahawa aliran dan pandangan yang dibawa oleh Sisters in Islam (SIS) boleh mengelirukan masyarakat;

“Menginsafi pendekatan mereka mudah meresapi pemikiran dan mengancam aqidah umat Islam terutamanya golongan muda dan berpendidikan sekular;

“Maka, muktamar PAS Pusat yang bersidang pada hari ini 11-13 Jamadilakhir 1430 bersamaan 5-7 Jun 2009 di Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam mengusulkan dan membuat ketetapan:

“Mendesak Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan membuat penyelidikan ke atas SIS yang membawa aliran Islam liberal dan seterusnya mengharamkan pertubuhan tersebut sekiranya terbukti bertentangan dengan syariat Islam serta membuat program pemulihan ke atas ahli-ahlinya.”

THE exact wording of Shah Alam PAS‘s resolution calling for Muslim women’s rights non-governmental organisation (NGO), Sisters in Islam (SIS), to be “investigated”, “banned” and “rehabilitated” by the National Fatwa Council. The resolution was passed without debate at the 55th PAS muktamar, which ended on 7 June 2009. Shah Alam PAS chief Khalid Samad said the party’s central working committee would probably forward the resolution to the fatwa council for further action. (Source: Usul-usul Muktamar Tahunan PAS Kali ke-55, made available to the media by muktamar organisers, 7 June 2009)

On a separate note, both PAS and SIS are part of the Abolish Internal Security Act (ISA) Movement (GMI), and both have consistently opposed the use of the ISA to silence individuals or organisations.

“I have a more open attitude: SIS is a registered NGO, so if you don’t agree with them, you can just state your views.”

Dr Lo’ Lo Mohamad Ghazali, PAS’s lone woman central working committee member, speaking in defence of SIS. Another muslimat, former central working committee member Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, also spoke up in the NGO’s defence. However, apart from these two muslimat, there were no categorical defences of SIS from PAS. (Source: PAS wants Sisters in Islam investigated, The Nut Graph, 7 June 2009)

“Orang Umno dianggap kafir berpandukan tiga faktor:

“Ahli-ahli Umno telah menyokong perlembagaan negara yang bukan merupakan perlembagaan Islam.

“Pemerintah yang terdiri daripada orang-orang Umno telah meletakkan perlembagaan negara lebih tinggi dari al-Quran.

“Kezaliman yang telah ditunjukkan oleh pemerintah terhadap orang-orang Islam khususnya PAS, jelas menunjukkan mereka tidak Islam.”

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang‘s initial thoughts on the status of Umno members and leaders. This particular quote was delivered on 17 June 1986, according to Utusan Malaysia. In 1981, Hadi gained notoriety through a speech he delivered in Kampung Benggol, Peradong, in which he called for a jihad against Umno, among other things. (Source: Kenyataan antara dua tok guru PAS, Utusan Malaysia, 2 Mar 2008)

“Umno is our political enemy but that does not mean we should shut the door to dialogue on issues that benefit the nation. We’ll talk to anyone, even MIC.”

PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa, on why PAS is still keen on engaging Umno despite being on opposite sides of the political divide. (Source: “Unity talks don’t mean PAS will join Umno”, The Nut Graph, 7 June 2009)

During the party’s 55th muktamar, several other pro-Umno PAS leaders reiterated that it was an Islamic duty to speak to one’s enemies, for example when the prophet Moses tried to negotiate with the pharaoh. However, it was not explained why this duty was incumbent on PAS in openly engaging Umno but not SIS.

“If most of PAS ulama are conservative, PAS would not have come this far in terms of political performance. In fact, our political ijtihad (independent reasoning) is being studied by overseas intellectuals. And if we are conservative, it would be hard for us to sit together with non-Muslims, the PAS supporters clubs, our Pakatan Rakyat partners and so on.”

Nasharudin again, challenging the media on the issue of labelling PAS’s ulama as “conservative”. Nasharudin said the “conservative” label was meant to discredit PAS by portraying it as backward. (Source: Nasharudin’s winding up speech at the 55th PAS muktamar, 7 June 2009)

Disclosure: Shanon Shah is an associate member of Sisters in Islam.