Delegates attending 50th PAS muktamar (general assembly) in Kota Baru took party president Abdul Hadi Awang to task today over his policy speech which they said lacked clear directions.

Delegates took turns on the rostrum in presenting their motion of thanks by making bold statements criticizing the speech that failed to address pertinent issues relating to the party's lame performance in the March general election.

Mujahid Yusuf Rawa, representing the youth wing, came down hard on the party leadership for ignoring the fact that the party's loss was due to its dwindling influence.

"At this point of time, party leaders must seriously discuss about a new format for the party to enhance its influence. Our focus must be on finding solutions and strategies and not on rhetoric," he said when debating the motions of thanks.

"We keep insisting that we lost not because the people had rejected us. But what's wrong in admitting that? We must come to terms with that in order to strengthen the party with new and dynamic ideas. We must avoid narrow minded policies."

Marketing strategy

He called on the leadership to hold a special convention in the near future to discuss the party's policies, strategies and directions.

"We propose that a special committee be set up to discuss these matters at length in order to produce the best leaders equipped with an effective marketing strategy to make the party the best in the area," he said in his fiery speech.

Mujahid also said that it is timely for the party to set a standard for leaders to ensure that the party will be led by credible candidates with clear vision and direction.

"A proper standard must be set and carried out systematically where every member be they ustaz (religious teacher) or not - must fulfill before they are elected to lead the party."

He said the party must be bold enough to make changes if it wants to increase its influence.

"We have yet to be the national-level party that we aspire to be. We seem to be relevant only in Malay-majority states like Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis. In other states, we failed to be a political party of reference."

He said there is a need for the party to form a blueprint as a reference for the party on poll strategies and directions in marketing the party so that it would succeed better in future elections.

Khalid also said that he was puzzled with the policy speech which attributed the party's unchanged strategies for the party's win and loss.

"I feel strange with the statement that our victory and defeat are due to policies that have not change. We need to find new strategies if we want to win."

He reminded the party leadership that winning the elections is very important for the party in upholding its struggle that is based on the teachings of Islam.

"PAS had chosen to carry its fight through democratic elections. That is what makes it different from other Islamic movements," he said.

Ready to move forward

"If you don't feel that winning the elections is important, then you should join JIM or Abim. We must admit that our struggle for Islam will not succeed without winning elections."

Khalid added that "there is no need for more "pep-talks" to boost the morale of the party as most of the members had got over their frustrations over the polls results."

"I think the speech writers were afraid to include clear strategies and directions in the policy speech because they fear that we may not be able to take on new responsibilities. Don't worry, the elections were six months ago and we have gotten over it and are now ready to move forward."

Kedah's Amiruddin Hamzah also expressed support for the special convention to discuss new party strategies and directions.

Commenting on the presidential speech, he said that Abdul Hadi should not have discussed the polls results in his speech without justification.

"Based on what was said, we do not know how to continue this struggle. It (the policy speech) failed to state clearly what are the plans of action we want to achieve," Amiruddin said.