Is the ‘divorce’ between PAS and DAP final? There is so much confusion over this.

The motion at the recent 61st PAS muktamar to break up with DAP was passed without debate after PAS organised what could be termed ‘a DAP-bashing fest’ beginning with the Dewan Ulama muktamar followed by the full muktamar from last Thursday to Friday.

Looking at it in this context, the public understands that PAS wants to burn all its bridges with DAP after much-traded insults, jibes and sarcastic quips from both sides.

However, after former deputy president Mohamad Sabu delivered his speech at the closing of the muktamar in Kuala Selangor on Saturday, the Islamic party seemed to have pulled the emergency brake.

Mohamad, or better known as Mat Sabu, gave a very sarcastic and critical 15-minute speech which brought tears to the eyes of his supporters.

Mat Sabu ( photo ), one of the pioneers in PAS’ progressive movement, announced in his speech that he would  also resign for his posts in the Penang government.

Also a close friend of Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, he said the decision was made because he was ‘worried’ of being accused of not obeying the party's new ulama leadership.

However, the 'sever ties' decision reached by the muktamar - the highest decision-making body in the party – has now been interpreted differently by the ulama themselves with its information chief Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali saying the motion was only to 'suggest' to the Syura Council and the central working committee that all ties with DAP be abolished.

Has their loyalty waned?

Then as if to mock the muktamar motion committee led by Mahfuz Omar, Khairuddin said the motion's wording had also been changed from ‘suggest’ to ‘urge’.

Newly-minted PAS vice-president Iskandar Samad then released a statement saying the motion had yet to be passed - which raised even more more questions.

The biggest poser now is what is the true power held by the muktamar in PAS? Everyone in PAS has been waiting for a decision on the party's future in Pakatan Rakyat for some time now.

There are also those who have interpreted the matter differently saying the reason for the ‘U-turn’ on the motion was more technical.

They said the decision will be made by the Syura Cou ncil, the majority of the members of which are from Dewan Ulama who brought about the motion in the first place. Meaning that the decision to be made by the council in the future is merely a formality.

Why, after a long drawn war with DAP is PAS now taking a softer approach? It certainly would not be as easy as seen by the awkward smiles and handshakes between PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang ( photo ) and DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang in Kundasang yesterday.

Political observer and analyst Wan Saiful Wan Jan posted a 'provocative' hypothesis on his Facebook page yesterday.

“The PAS assembly has made their decision unanimously. What else is there to wait for? Or has the (PAS leaders') walak (loyalty) decreased because of the fear of losing money?” he asked, referring to positions occupied by PAS in the Penang DAP-controlled government.

 JIMADIE SHAH OTHMAN is a member of the Malaysiakini team.