Some of the PAS faithful, having suffered a series of humiliating defeats in the 11th general election, are beginning to think the unthinkable - to replace their president Abdul Hadi Awang.

The undercurrents were clear during the party's Youth assembly last Thursday, when several of those who attended spoke to malaysiakini.

One notion being circulated is that Abdul Hadi could possibly be challenged at next year's muktamar (general assembly) .

"I think the challenge is important as it might make him (Abdul Hadi) realise that not all in PAS agree with his views," said a source.

"Abdul Hadi does not accept his own weaknesses, although these are clear for all to see. Instead, he plays with words and defends himself by reciting Quranic verses and the hadith."

The source praised Zamri Ibrahim, a Youth delegate from Kelantan, for pointing out that the PAS leadership had not been consistent in its decision to boycott the general election results.

Zamri had said that PAS MPs and state assembly representatives, including Abdul Hadi, had been quickly sworn in, when they had earlier refused to recognise the polls outcome.

"This must have come as a slap in the face for Abdul Hadi ," the source said.

Abdul Hadi, the former Terengganu menteri besar, won the Rhu Rendang state seat in the Marang parliamentary constituency, which he also contested but lost.

'Changes required'

Another PAS member said he was not personally anti-Hadi but that his objection was to the style of leadership.

"He (Abdul Hadi) thinks he is super-clever in every aspect. This is the part of his character that I don't like most of all," the source said.

He claimed that Abdul Hadi's attitude has discouraged several young leaders and has also shown lack of tolerance for issues that he deems to be insignificant, such as entertainment events.

"We should not stop people from enjoying entertainment events because it is the individual's right to do so," the member said.

"The only thing we can do is to disseminate information so that the public will get involved in events that are considered extreme."

He expressed support for Pas Youth chief Sallehuddin Ayub who, in his keynote address, said the Youth movement had set up a committee to carry out a study on alternative forms of entertainment.

"Abdul Hadi should take into account contemporary issues affecting all youth," the source said.

A third party member interviewed said he believed that PAS would "be buried sooner rather than later, if Abdul Hadi does not change his style of leadership".

"The life of a political party depends on the wisdom of its top leaders. A far-sighted leader must consider the needs of members and grassroots leaders. A party is only as strong as the support that it obtains from its rank and file," he noted.

YAAKUB DASAN is malaysiakini's Kelantan-based stringer.