We'll win Manek Urai, vows Hadi

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, in his presidential speech at the opening of the 55th party congress this morning, has vowed to retain Manek Urai - the state seat in Kelantan which will be facing a by-election next month.

"God willing, when the Manek Urai by-election is held, we will be able to defend it," he said.

Abdul Hadi also said that Barisan Nasional's fall from power was imminent because of voters' deep disillusionment with the ruling coalition.

He blamed Malaysia's severe economic downturn on BN.

"The BN government is always blaming the external factors' for the crisis," Abdul Hadi said.

However, "the internal factors that can be seen as anti-growth in economic terms are still rampant: money politics, corruption, misuse of power and resources and cronyism," he said.

Abdul Hadi also said the party will fight to bring change in the Malaysian mindset which blindly pursue material gains that can be detrimental to the well-being of the society.

"PAS will lead in bringing a new Islamic paradigm in politics unifies all Malaysians in our struggle for universal justice," he said.

BN only has grandiose slogans

The PAS leader lamented that the inequalities in the Malaysian society and the failure of the country’s political and economic systems to address this have seen a rise in racial politics.

Abdul Hadi also took a swipe at Barisan Nasional and Umno for conjuring grandiose slogans promising change which is merely cosmetic.

"The reason for this is because Umno and BN are trapped in an old system which is focused on race and directed towards material gains and the maintenance of their political dominance,” he said.

"The 1Malaysia slogan (coined by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak) will not result in any improvement for the country as Umno and BN are in tatters.

“This is further worsen with the BN’s assault on the system of separation of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary.

He also slammed the government's "immoral and unconstitutional" means to topple the PAS-led government in Perak.

"It signals nothing else except the near downfall of BN headed by Umno," he said.

Pakatan yes, but we want to meet others too

Abdul Hadi, in his keynote speech, also took pains to reiterate the party's stand in deepening its ties with the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

He said BN's defeat in the next general elections due by 2012 was assured if the PAS strengthened its alliance with PKR and DAP.

"Let us increase and embolden our relationships, at all levels, within the Pakatan Rakyat since this will increase our (chances of winning) the coming 13th national general election," Abdul Hadi said.

However, he said the party was open to having discussion with other groups outside of Pakatan “in the interest of Islam”.

He was clearly referring to the recent hubbub over a series of meetings between PAS and its key rival Umno in the wake of last year’s general elections.

Although he did not elaborate the matter further, such talks are backed by both Abdul Hadi and his deputy, Nasharuddin Mat Isa, to the chagrin of a number PAS leaders.

The PAS president also took a swipe at the BN government for undermining the Malay language following its decision to use English in teaching Mathematics and Science in schools.

“Umno has insisted in maintaining the use of English to teach these subjects when there are numerous studies arguing that both Maths and Science should be taught in one's own mother-tongue,” he said.

Abdul Hadi nevertheless asserted that PAS is not “anti-English” or any other languages.

According to him, to improve one’s proficiency of English, the teaching of the language itself should be improved and not through Maths and Science.

Meanwhile, poet/novelist A Samad Said and former Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director-general Dr Hassan Ahmad were presented the party's national laureate award.

Tight race for No 2 post

In a press conference which followed, Hadi defended his unity government proposal.

He claimed that while the other Pakatan partners were not eager to jump straight away into such talks with their rivals, they have reacted positively to the idea.

The muktamar has been adjourned for lunch and Friday prayers and will continue at 3pm.

Delegates would then be voting to elect incoming party leaders. Hadi had retained his position without contest but the bitter battle is for the deputy president's post.

Incumbent Nasharuddin Mat Isa is being challenged by vice-presidents Husam Musa and Mohammad Sabu.

Nasharuddin is from the ulama camp and has favoured unity talks with Umno for the sake of religion and race.

Husam however is seen as a reform-minded professional who can work closely with the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition and its leader, Anwar Ibrahim.

Among the top Pakatan leaders who at the congress opening today were DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.

Anwar was not there as he is in France for a speaking engagement.