PAS delegates attending the party's three-day muktamar (annual general assembly) in Kota Bharu last week sent a clear message to top leaders: the party will have to change its attitude and tactics if it intends to move forward as a political party to be reckoned with.

This reinforced the findings of a recent opinion poll conducted by Harakahdaily, with 45.7 percent of its readers recommending change for the sake of obtaining more support from the people.

However, the party leaders' response to the strong speeches turned out to be fuzzy at best. The only clear decision to emerge was to hold a munaqashah (convention) in a month.

This year's munaqashah, a traditional meeting for party leaders to discuss matters raised during the muktamar, will focus solely on changes to the party's strategies and approaches.

Youth exco member Mujahid Yusuf Rawa was among those who delivered a fiery speech on the need for change.

"We are satisfied that they have agreed to hold the munaqashah to discuss issues linked to the party's direction. It's enough....for now that is," he said, while conceding that leaders had not answered all the questions raised by delegates.

"We did expect them (the leaders) to answer all our questions. It's impossible for them to do so in such a short time. Insya'Allah (God willing) they will do so in the munaqashah."

A delegate from Kuala Lumpur, Zulkifli Noordin said the muktamar could have had greater impact if top leaders had provided some direction.

"All we know right now is that we are going to hold a munaqashah. That is all they gave us. I think we (delegates) needed more than that. They should at least have given us an ideas of what we are supposed to do," he said.

However, he praised the leaders for boosting the morale of members following the party's lame performance in the general election in March.

"They explained that the loss is part of our struggle and likened it what had happened to the Prophet Muhammad before he established a government in Mecca," he said.

Mixed feelings

But are the old guard and conservatives within the top leadership ready to make the changes sought by its members?

A delegate who refused to be named said that he has seen no sign that there will be significant changes.

"After the hearing the (winding-up) speeches and reading between the lines, there is nothing for us to look forward to. Look at the president's speech, it was evasive...he did not answer the questions posed by delegates," he said.

An observer singled out the speeches made by deputy president Hassan Shukri .

"While we talked about new approaches and political tactics, Ustaz Hassan (photo) talked about increasing the number of party branches and members. Those issues are obvious for any political party. He seems to be living in his own time-warp back in the 1960s.," he said.

Their pessimism does not mean that members have nothing to anticipate - there is much excitement over the anticipated appointment of Dr Haron Din as deputy mursyidul am (spiritual adviser).

"We believe Haron (photo) can bring in changes. As he will be the number two man in the party's highest division majlis syura ulama (religious scholars' consultative council), the road to change will not be so hard," said a party insider.

He also said there will be some change on the leadership front as Haron has expressed his desire to relinquish his current post of information.

"It will be interesting to see who will replace Haron. Any changes will affect other posts," he said.

For all the dissent expressed, the muktamar showed that PAS is a party that takes criticism in its stride.

"You don't see this happening in Umno and I don't think you ever will. Whatever it is, PAS is still much better when compared with Umno," said the insider.

Another feature is that no special treatment is reserved for anyone. When the media was invited to attend a dinner, Abdul Hadi was seen helping himself to the same buffet spread served to the journalist and grassroots leaders.

"That is how it has always been...it is a party tradition that will continue to attract Malay Muslims. It's still a party to be reckoned with," added the insider.