The “professionals” in PAS may have lost to the ulama faction in the recent party polls in Selangor, but they are planning to make a comeback soon with more vigour.

PAS' Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa said there are efforts to unite the progressives, not just those in PAS but other parties as well, to continue fighting for change.

Asked on what platform would this group work on, Mujahid said those who are like-minded must become an "institution" by themselves.

“Everyone of us who have lost in the muktamar have our own assets, but we must present ourselves as an institution,” Mujahid told Malaysiakini , when contacted.

“We have to realign ourselves and become the mainstream of Pakatan Rakyat policy framework,” said the former PAS central committee member.

“We need to die to be reborn, to live anew,” he quipped.

Not sad over recent developments

Mujahid denied he was sad over the recent developments in PAS, where pro-Pakatan PAS leaders, including popular former deputy president Mohamed 'Mat' Sabu, were wiped out in the polls.

Their positions were filled by the ulamas, who are deemed as “conservatives and hardliners”, aligned to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang ( photo ).

“PAS has chosen its path that they do not want to move forward, they want to conserve their principles, they do not want to adapt to others, they do not want to understand others or have others understand them,” Mujahid reflected.

“So why are we still talking about them? Leave them with whatever they choose,” he said.

“It is not the political party that is pressuring for change, but the environment, so we must learn how to ride on that,” he added.

DAP had earlier severed ties with Hadi when he tabled a private members bill on hudud, allegedly without consulting the Pakatan presidential council.

In retaliation, the PAS muktamar passed a motion to sever ties with DAP, without debate.

Despite this, Mujahid expressed hope that the progressives and their like-minded supporters will band together positively and take the opportunity to “rejuvenate”.

“We can dictate our own steps and do not have to follow others,” he said.

Ask people to move forward

Those who lost in the party polls have started attending ceramahs organised by PKR to explain their situation to their supporters in various states.

A ceramah was held in the Federal Territory on Sunday, and today, another big gathering will be held in Johor, where Mat Sabu ( photo ), Mujahid and other professionals are slated to speak.

“We are not interested in attacking the ulamas for whatever reason including why we lost in the muktamar, we just want to ask people to move forward. We want to give people hope,” he said.

Asked if the group is still trying to salvage Pakatan despite the split between PAS and DAP, Mujahid said “Pakatan is just a name”.

“What is more important is the substance,” said the former Penang deputy commissioner II.