If PAS has its way, it will wield a not-so-secret weapon in the 11th general election, due to be held by November next year, in order to win over at least 10 percent of the fence-sitters among Malay voters.

Respected ulama (religious scholar) Dr Harun Din (left) has been nominated to fill the post of party information chief, following his surprise decision not to contest the deputy president's post at the general assembly on Sept 13.

If the proposal is accepted by the central working committee on Sunday, then the ex-lecturer will be firmly entrenched within the inner circle of power.

Lauding the proposal, Kuala Kedah member of Parliament Mohamad Sabu said he fully supports the bid to place Harun as a frontliner for the party, to assist the party to increase its electoral stake in the northern states which form the Malay political heartland.

"Dr Harun is highly respected by most Malays especially in the north. We are not just talking about party members. I have met many who do not support the party, but who freely express support for the man," he told malaysiakini.

He said the charismatic leader - who is reputed to deliver excellent ceramah agama (religious talks) and highly regarded spiritual healer - has sufficient influence to attract fence-sitters and provide the needed swing in votes to PAS and its opposition coalition partners.

Harun for MB?

So confident is he that Mohamad - popularly known as Mat Sabu - had no qualms in proposing that PAS lures voters by announcing Harun as a possible candidate to fill the Kedah menteri besar post.

Since Harun hails from Perlis, the suggestion is a bold one.

"I'm confident that this will increase support by 10-15 percent, insya'Allah (God willing). Our win will be more meaningful and symbolic, as it would be in the stronghold of Umno big guns like (prime minister) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) and (ex finance minister) Daim (Zainudin)," he said.

"I can't speak for the others (Kedah members of Parliament), but I sincerely believe that the move will be good for us," he added.

Such a move is not without its risks. During the 1999 general election campaign, PAS had said Harun would head the Perlis administration if PAS took the state.

"Perlis was almost in our hands then, but when he (Harun) withdrew his intention to stand for election, the support - especially from among the government servants - just dwindled. I think that was the reason we lost," Mat Sabu said.

He also conceded that questions of seniority would be raised this time around, if Harun is considered for the post.

"But, if we want to win, we must have effective election strategies. We cannot afford to forgo the influence of people like Harun over negligible issues," he said.

Still, if any dissatisfaction rises, PAS stands to 'lose' Harun again because he is known to shy away from controversy.

Dealing with discontent

PAS Shah Alam division head Khalid Samad also expressed worry that Harun may decline to play a "meaty" role in the north, should there be discontent over his involvement.

"He is someone who would not want to create discomfort especially among current party leaders. He would shy away immediately if he senses that he is not welcomed," Khalid said, referring to Harun's reasons for withdrawing from the recent party polls.

"It is well known that Harun could have won (the deputy president's post) easily if he had contested. But being noble, he declined (to contest) because he felt it inappropriate to challenge the other candidates who were already vice-presidents. I think he will stick to his principles in any situation."

Khalid said "there will be no Harun Din" in the general election, unless the latter gets full support from all party leaders including Azizan Abdul Razak and Hashim Jasin, who are the Kedah and Perlis state commissioners respectively.

"I don't want to put him above or below the other leaders there (northern states). His entry should not be seen as a challenge but as a supplement to help the party win. And we all know he is capable of (delivering) that."

Khalid, however, felt that Azizan and Hashim would react rationally and would not have much objection to Harun's involvement on their turf.

When contacted, Azizan said he did not foresee problems if Harun were to join the party's northern election teams.

"Undeniably, he is very influential and his contribution would have a positive impact. He will have no problem in winning wherever he stands. I would welcome his involvement to enhance our chances to capture the northern states," he said.

Azizan felt that Harun's influence would have greater impact in Perlis, noting that the state needs a "boost" to help the party increase its stake there.

In the meantime, he said, members should not spend too much time discussing who should be the menteri besar but instead focus on efforts to win the states first.

"We must remember that our duty is to work (for victory). Whether we win or not is entirely up to God. Even if we lose the elections, it is not the end of the world for us," he added.

Umno 'wary'

Disagreeing with Azizan, political writer-cum-observer, Lutfi Othman said it would be a better strategy for the party to field Harun in Kedah.

Lutfi, who recently visited Kubang Pasu, said voters' conversations had become livelier when the possibility of Hassan's presence in the state elections was mentioned.

"Harun Din is always a hot topic. I met and talked to kampung folk and urban Malays on the issue, and they were all agog over the possibility of him contesting there. They feel it would be an honour for them to have this respected and religious man as a state leader, " he said.

He said the speculation alone was enough to make Kedah Umno members wary.

"Umno is already having a difficult time as it is. Harun's presence will just make things impossible for them. They know that even Umno members would give Harun their vote," he said.

Asked if Harun's penchant for backing out of contests may have had any effect on his credibility, Lutfi said this was unlikely because his reputation has remained intact.

Although the reason was not made known then, Harun's decision in 1999 was prompted by the threat of a legal suit for an unperformed financial loan, for which he was a guarantor.

Refusing to risk disqualification during the nomination process, he pulled out so that a safer candidate could be fielded.

Lutfi said Umno could do little in taking on Harun, apart from attacking his bomoh activities - he practises as a spiritual healer at a clinic in Bangi, Selangor.

"This has happened before. Dr Mahathir ridiculed him by calling him an air jampi (charmed water) seller. But I don't think it hurt his image. In fact it only made people angry and if Harun had not withdrawn, PAS would have had no problems making inroads then," he said.

This is because the Malays in general have acknowledged that Harun provides a public service.

"Mind you, I myself have seen a few Umno leaders going to his clinic. And of course his close friendship with (jailed deputy premier) Anwar Ibrahim have also helped (the opposition political cause)," he added.

"Before he openly supported PAS, he was already established as a progressive religious scholar and thinker. There is little room to question his credibility now, whether as an ulama, bomoh or politician."