Nik Aziz man extraordinaire

It was about 10pm and the usually quiet town of Rasa was full of energy and vibrancy. For many people in this small town, it must be the first time in their life that they are meeting in flesh and blood the most influential Muslim leader in Malaysia. For those uninitiated, this turbaned small frame figure wearing long flowing robe covered with a vest and supported with a walking stick can be just another typical Muslim going to the surau nearby for his prayers.

But this Pak Haji is no ordinary Malay-Muslim that we usually sees around us. This man can easily sway at least 30% of the Muslims in this country  on any other issue of the day. Even at age 79 and sometimes troubled with fatigue he still traversed all over the country speaking and meeting with his staunched party supporters and followers of the Islamic faith. This extraodinary man is Nik Abdul Aziz or affectionately known as Tok Guru who is the Mursyidul Am or spiritual adviser of the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) and Chief Minister for the State of Kelantan for the last 20 years.

The mostly Chinese crowd of about 2,000 attending the PKR campaign dinner at the Dewan Serbaguna JKKK Rasa were very excited and curious to see and listen to the Tok Guru for the first time. Earlier outside the main road groups of men wearing turban or ketayap who are most probably PAS members and supporters had waited for their Tok Guru's arrival for his maiden speech to the Chinese community in Rasa.

The roofted open-air basketball court where the dinner was held provided the necessary shade from the short shower minutes earlier. Those who did not managed to purchase the RM30 a seat dinner encircled around the hall to listen to the speeches.

While other speakers spoke from a rostrum, Nik Aziz was seated on a plastic chair on stage. Having just returned from Mecca, he is still recovering from fatigue. The stage is now left to him to deliver his message to the voters of Rasa. Tok Guru in his stern and fatherly voice transmitted his message to the audience to support the PR candidate Zaid Ibrahim. The audience are those who are already converted, meaning already prepared to support Zaid but they came to listen anyway as it is not always the Tok Guru visits Rasa.

Tok Guru task in getting the Chinese support will not be much of a problem but he will be facing huge challenge to turn over the core Umno supporters in Ulu Bernam. It will be an uphill task but if he can convert 5% - 10% of the Malay-Muslim voters, Zaid should be able to scrap through with a small majority.

The day of reckoning will be on April 25 and the nation waits for the result of the most eagerly contested by-election in recent memory. The result will be a preview on the direction of the nation's political agenda in the near future.

P.S. - While writing this article on the Tok Guru, I can't avoid from thinking of another religious man extraordinaire which I had the affinity to know personally, i.e. the late Venerable Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera who is also fondly known as "The Chief" by his devotees and those close to him. These two great men of religion truly provided the platform and cultivate the landscape that reflects the true meaning of living in a multi-religious Malaysia. - Loka

PAS moral crossroad

PAS is standing on a Pakatan Rakyat's crossroad on the issue of morality and whatever stand it makes regarding the Elizabeth Wong issue it will influence it's level of relationship with her comrades in PR, namely PKR and DAP. It's decision will also be followed closely with much interest by it's long time nemesis Umno.

If PAS takes the high moral ground stance on Elizabeth Wong's scandal, it will most probably moving towards a collision course with PKR and DAP but will gain brownie points in the eyes of its Malay-Muslims supporters. It will also elevates its credential as a religious based party compared to Umno which has been trying for years to challenge PAS for the Muslim leadership in the country.

That will be the consideration for PAS whether to push for Elizabeth's departure from the Selangor state exco lineup. Political considerations survival will take precedence over any other reasons. That's the reality for every political party. PAS will not sacrifice the party's interest for sake of only one single woman politician from PKR. For them, Elizabeth is dispensable and of no interest to them.

If PAS backs PKR leadership to retain Elizabeth as state exco, the decision will for sure be use to the hilt by it's political oppponents especially Umno to attack its Islamic credentials. Even though those in Umno are no angels themselves, the power of media spinning will be a force to be reckoned with that no one in PAS wants to dabble into. The Umno controlled media will go to towns and kampungs to play up this issue. PAS would not want to risk its influence in the Malay heartland for the sake of just one outsider.

On the other hand, it will be good news to Chua Soi Lek if Elizabeth is retained as Exco. There is no connection between both of them and I think neither of them knows each other but a political decision will affects other too.

As I mentioned previously, even if MCA agreed for Chua Soi Lek to be appointed a Senator and then a Minister, Umno may not be agreeable to that due to the concern it might brings disrepute to it's Malay-Muslims based and ridicule to PAS for endorsing adultery.

Once PAS accepts Elizabeth warts and all, Umno will be in an easier position to accept Chua Soi Lek or whoever tainted with sex scandal into the cabinet. It seems that of all people, the person to benefit most from the Elizabeth Wong's nude photo scandal is not someone from Umno or PKR but MCA's Chua. But of course assuming Soi Lek is not sacked or have his membership suspended from MCA before the next cabinet's re-shuffle by Najib due to his sexual DVD re-vival than brought shame to the party.

One woman's fall is another man's glory. - Loka

PAS supports DAP?

It looks like the DAP are going all out for the Chinese voters in the Kuala Terengganu by-election by giving MCA a head-on fight. Even though DAP is not fielding any candidate for the by-election, they are fighting nail and tooth for the 11% Chinese voters to throw their support to the PAS candidate. If PAS wins this round with the Chinese support then DAP can claim that the Chinese already deserted MCA and the real Chinese champion now is no more MCA but DAP.

Is DAP putting in too much effort for the sake of reducing MCA's influence amongst the Chinese community? What will be the price that DAP have to pay later when PAS gets stronger and more accessible to the Chinese community? As the Nik Aziz had said about Umno on the derailed plan to enhance PAS-Umno cooperation, " one does not get bitten twice by the same snake from the same hole twice"?

Has DAP forgotten the the thrashing they suffered in the 1999 general election after the Chinese voters deserted them due to their close cooperation with PAS? PAS won more seats than they can ever imagine while DAP experience one of the worst general election results. Lim Kit Siang even lost in Ipoh Timur and with that also the Opposition Leader position in Parliament to PAS president Hadi Awang.

On the other way around, if there is a by-election now which is contested by DAP against BN in a mixed seat, will PAS gives the similiar support if not more to ensure victory for DAP? Based on precedents and the insistence of PAS on the Islamic State and Hudud issue, it will be very slim chance for this to happen. Maybe PAS wil provide a gesture of "goodwill" is by not contesting the seat themselves!

DAP Chairman Karpal Singh has been very clear in his stand that there shall be no Hudud law or Islamic state for this country. Karpal has been very consistent in his stand but it seems some DAP leaders are still playing buddy-buddy to PAS for whatever reasons they know better. If DAP leaders are not careful, this external issue will be the catalyst of leadership split and downfall of DAP. - Loka