exclusive In this first of a two-part interview, PAS election director Mustafa Ali tells malaysiakini about preparations for the next general election, why some PAS leaders have been 'missing in action' and the party's relationship with its opposition allies.

Malaysiakini: Why have PAS leaders been so quiet lately, compared to DAP and PKR leaders who obviously gearing up for the next general election by organising public forums and issuing press statements on weekly or daily basis?

Mustafa: I don't think (we have been quiet). I think we have been carrying out activities, from the rank-and-file up to the president (Abdul Hadi Awang). I think (other PAS leaders) are doing their job too in the portfolio entrusted to them, which we call lajnah (sub-committee or bureau). In terms of organising forums, that is just one aspect of activities. We are now concentrating more on internal matters, organising our resources, meeting our grassroots supporters - that's what we are doing.

Even in the independent or alternative media, we don't see coverage on what PAS is doing.

Maybe you're not in communication with them? (Laughs) Publicity wise, we have never had good publicity from the mainstream media...they don't even cover our activities. Probably you also just focus on (activities in) Kuala Lumpur, not other areas. For example, there was a very big PAS Youth congregation in Kota Baru recently.

What about reaching out to other sectors of the society?

To reach out, Mujahid (Yusuf Rawa, PAS national unity committee head, photo) is doing that, for non-Muslims in specific areas with a multi-racial population. We also have a PAS' Supporters Club, which mainly comprises non-Muslims.

But (PAS president) Abdul Hadi Awang (photo) really has maintained a low profile...

Probably yes. He has been keeping a low profile because he is giving space to his lieutenants - the secretary-general, deputy president and the vice-presidents.

Is he retiring?

No, he is still there. He mainly attends party programmes, which are not reported by the press - the (public) programmes are handled by his lieutenants.

Look back at the general election in 2004, what are the lessons that PAS has learned?

Various factors affected the election results. It was not just about the Islamic state, which was just one issue. Even in Kelantan, it was not because people rejected PAS. There were other factors such as what Umno and Barisan Nasional did hand in hand with the authorities including the Election Commission and home ministry. In Terengganu, this was the biggest factor. (They) brought in a large number of people who were not residing in constituencies, got them registered and got them to vote.

Umno claims that PAS is doing the same thing in Terengganu now.

They can claim anything.

In terms of party candidates, was that a factor as well?

I don't think so. Candidates-wise, the selection was good. Nothing wrong with the candidates, (except) probably in one or two areas. Generally the result of the 2004 general election was not because of the candidates.

Are we expecting more new faces or Young Turks from PAS to contest in the next general election? This strategy of using the young candidates looks like has worked for the DAP in the Sarawak election.

All this while, we have always (fielded) new faces. (For the next general election,) you can expect a lot of new faces, because some are getting old and some have been serving for too long.

Will the majority of them be non-ulama?

Combination of both. Our way of doing that will depend on the constituency. We get feedback from the ground. For instance, if we have five candidates, (we would take the one) who would be the best in terms of win-ability. If an ulama in a particular area is considered the best, then we take the ulama. We don't go (have a formula of how) many percent ulama and how many percent professionals. There is no such thing as national preference, it depends on the particular area - based on the personality, not whether the candidate is a professional or ulama.

Is the opposition confident of reducing BN's two-thirds majority in the next poll?

It is possible but depends on how the opposition is going to work it out.

What about PAS' prospects of regaining power in Terengganu?

We are quite confident now.

Based on?

Based on the support (for PAS) now and the people's disillusionment with the government.

In Kuala Lumpur, public resentment could be quite obvious with the hike in cost of living due to higher toll charges, petrol prices and electricity and water tariffs. What about Terengganu?

There are lots of issues in Terengganu, (including) expenditure that does not prioritise the well being of the people. They call it development projects in Pulau Duyong and Monsoon Cup. People can see they don't benefit from the money spent - three-quarters of a billion ringgit were spent on these projects while the (state government) has not addressed issues of poverty and housing, or corruption within the state government. These are the issues.

PAS has been seen as a provincial party judging from where you have been getting support to date. How is the party going to break away from that to become a national party?

We have been getting supporters beyond Kelantan, Terengannu and Kedah. We have been getting members from Johor, if that is a criteria used. In the southern states, we are not strong but we are getting stronger, judging by membership, activities and programmes. They are very active.

What's the progress of the Barisan Alternatif (BA) seat-allocation negotiations?

We haven't really touched on this yet because I think (there) is still a long way to go in that sense. The allocation is based on status quo. If amendments are needed, we can make these but the status quo, allocation and basis from the last election are there. If changes are needed, then we can discuss this. But all along, they have understood this is the basis, so it won't take long for us to discuss the allocation.

It is understood that PKR and DAP leaders met recently over seats allocation. Has PAS been isolated from the process?

It's our agreement with Anwar (Ibrahim, PKR adviser, photo) that if (it comes to) DAP, he can handle that because DAP doesn't see eye to eye to PAS. It's okay, PAS don't meet DAP in that sense, so PKR is doing that - that has been agreed upon by us.

Also, overlapping of seats usually involve DAP and PKR or PKR and PAS - not PAS and DAP. DAP normally contests in seats that have more than 60 percent non-Malays which, of course, won't be contested by PAS. The overlapping between DAP and PKR, they have to strike it out. As for PKR and PAS, it's not a big matter for us, the status quo in the last general election is there as the basis.

Is PKR getting closer to DAP? Is PAS a liability to PKR?

It depends on PKR, we can't force them, it doesn't matter to us. What we see is that PKR has a direct relationship with DAP and a direct relationship with PAS - it is the bridge. We believe BA is there. Of course if PKR is getting closer to DAP, it should be good because DAP was at quite a distance from PKR previously.

In the last Sarawak election, it could be seen that PKR and PAS were maintaining a distance during the election campaign. What does that indicate?

Sarawak is different from the peninsula, we understand that. We gave the go ahead to PKR ... because Sabah and Sarawak should be led by PKR. We played a minor role there although there is still a role to be played in some of the areas. DAP and PKR can work on that. In the Malay areas, the co-operation is more between PAS and PKR. In Sarawak and Sabah, co-operation between DAP and PKR is more than with PAS. That is as it should be. It doesn't mean PKR is leaving PAS.

How strong is BA now? You've previously described it as a loose coalition.

Of course after the election, we were down, we had not started the real work then. Now everyone is working, PKR is working, PAS is working.

As for yourself, are you to going to contest in the next election?

Depends on whether they are going to select me. In terms of standing for election, I am phasing out, to be frank, I am phasing out. All these young people are coming out so if it's necessary, I'll contest. If it's not necessary, probably I won't contest. Definitely, I am not going to contest a parliamentary seat. The last time, I just wanted to contest one seat, not two (parliamentary and state), but they (the party) 'forced' me to contest two seats. I am getting old.

In terms of activities, I am still 100 percent in politics but in terms of contesting it is different - it is a matter of whether I should be a wakil rakyat or not. I can still be active politically, I have been there for too long - two terms as MP and a few terms as state assemblyperson. I started in 1974 - more than 30 years ago.