COMMENT PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, the so-called firebrand of the party, has been moving closer and closer towards Umno in the recent past.

It all started even before the party took the decision to send a Private Member's Bill, from Hadi, to Parliament to amend the Federal Constitution.

Rather than PAS, it was Umno that promised the "heaven" when one of its federal ministers hoodwinked PAS in believing that its Private Member's Bill would get the support of Umno members in Parliament.

However, recent statements by Umno leaders that they would not act contrary to the constitution, and the fact that bill has been put in a non-priority list, points to the fact that PAS has been hoodwinked by Umno leaders.

Unlike in the past, PAS is now a badly divided party, between moderates (for the lack of better term) and the ulama faction. Both the president and the deputy president, Mohamad Sabu, are on the opposite sides of the fence.

While Mohamad Sabu, or Mat Sabu ( photo ) as he is widely known, wants PAS to remain in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, Hadi is ready to quit the coalition because of DAP's strong opposition to hudud and to the indifference displayed by PKR on the same issue.

At the national level, the ulama faction headed by Hadi might get the support of PAS members on religious grounds and for the implementation of hudud in Kelantan, with the support, or no support, from its members in Parliament.

However, at the level of the rank and file, many PAS members think that they should be part of the Pakatan coalition.

We worked together for the desired victory

This was clearly illustrated in the recent Permatang Pauh by-election, where both national and local PAS leaders worked with DAP and PKR to bring about the desired victory for Anwar Ibrahim's wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. PAS’ members refused to abide by the directives of Hadi!

While the prospect of PAS leaving Pakatan is real, the only reassuring fact is the desire for the rank-and-file members to remain part of the PR coalition, given their deep-seated opposition to Umno/Barisan Nasional.

Contrary to whatever Hadi might think and act, he seems rather impervious to accept the idea that the majority of PAS members are loyal to Pakatan.

This is precisely the reason why this PAS Muktamar (general assembly) that is now going on could contribute to driving the historical wedge between the two factions in the party.

Furthermore, it would not be wrong to assume that if the ulama faction wins, and it probably will, then PAS will break away from Pakatan. This would pave the way for a formation of a new political entity by the moderates (and I don’t have PasMa in mind!).

Although Hadi ( photo ) could, eventually, obtain support for his victory, he has so far seemed rather panicky. He cannot turn to Umno for support now, because that party is reeking with corruption associated with scandals such as the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Counting on support from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak would not mean anything to the party because Najib himself is caught in a terrible quagmire of corruption politics.

Hadi might not have liked DAP in the past, but he has lately shown his distaste for the party by accusing detractors within his party for "sleeping" with DAP. Without naming the leaders, it is clear that he is pointing his fingers at Mat Sabu and other moderate leaders in PAS.

So much for the credibility of PAS! It invokes the worst kind of politics to remain in power. By focusing on the DAP, Hadi wants to tell PAS members that those opposing him are colluding with the Chinese in DAP!

I think he is still learning “valuable” lessons from Umno in this criteria of identifying enemies.

I would think that this is perhaps the last straw in "breaking the camel's back" in the relationship between PAS and DAP.

While DAP is opposed to Hadi, the party, given its own electoral vulnerability in Malay majority areas, wants to foment a new and more lasting relationship with PAS members who are opposed to Hadi and those who are vehemently opposed to any links with the decadent and corrupt Umno!

The “battle royale” in the Pakatan coalition has begun. DAP and PKR would want to use the "Permatang Pauh model" of cooperation and understanding to cement a new relationship with PAS members.

The Permatang Pauh by-election to elect Wan Azizah has since become a national symbol on how to cement and further the ties among the parties in the three-member coalition.

Actually, the trouble between DAP and PAS over hudud might not be the death of the PR coalition. On the contrary, it opens unlimited opportunities for new levels of cooperation and understanding.

Putrajaya can still be grabbed by the Pakatan coalition. Let us watch the events as they unfold in the days, weeks and months to come!

P RAMASAMY is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang and the assemblyperson for Perai.