The New Hope (Harapan Baru) movement in PAS, led by its progressive faction, has been quite vocal in drubbing the current party leaders.

 

Even the powerful syura council has not been spared.

 

However, when asked, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad was quick to say they are not out to provoke a negative reaction from the central leadership, so as to justify the birth of a new party.

 

"We are not looking to be sacked. It is just that now that we are ordinary members, we are freer to speak our mind.

 

"So this is one of the benefits of being an ordinary member - you don't have to be as reserved in criticising the party or giving your views on what the party should or should not be doing," he told Malaysiakini .

 

The New Hope team, also known as G18, are mulling the formation of a new inclusive democratic party yet still maintaining its Islamic party credential, to replace PAS in the opposition.

 

Being sacked from the party would vindicate their stance that PAS is no longer open to criticism or progressive views and thus, garner support for a new party.

 

It would be a mistake for the progressives to be seen as sore losers, who are 'syok sendiri' (self-indulgent) when it comes to this new movement.

 

‘It would be a big mistake’

 

PAS spiritual leader Harun Din and president Abdul Hadi Awang have both warned against the progressives leaving the party, with Hadi saying they would drown .

 

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has said that the party will not take action against Khalid for saying PAS leaders need to be do some serious self-reflection when it labels other parties as chauvinist.

 

Political analyst Wan Saiful Wan Jan also thinks the party need not react to internal critics.

 

He told Malaysiakini PAS would suffer if it booted out the progressives, even if they were planning to leave.

 

"It would a big mistake if PAS were to take disciplinary action against them now. There's no case anyway; you can only be sacked if you join another party.

 

"Talking about joining a new party is not a disciplinary issue yet," he said.