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Shahbudin: PAS, Umno need change of leaders

Joe Fernandez

 | November 9, 2015

Abdul Hadi Awang may take a leaf from Najib Abdul Razak and continue to lead the party until polls in 2017 and even for GE14.

KUALA LUMPUR: Both PAS and Umno clearly need a change of leaders following their inability to cope with several critical issues, said a political analyst in a blog posting. “It was seen quite early on that Umno needed a change of leadership after the 1MDB scandal and the RM2.6 billion political ‘donation’ controversy emerged to threaten the future of the party.”

“Umno has been rejected by the people on the two issues and if it continues under the present leadership, it will be rejected by the voters.”

PAS, he added, needs a change of leadership because the party has since degenerated into a bundle of contradictions on various issues especially the 1MDB scandal among other financial scandals, political co-operation with Umno, and relations with Perkasa.

Shahbudin Husin, the analyst, does not rule out Abdul Hadi Awang taking a leaf from Umno President and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and remaining the PAS president until its elections in 2017. “PAS may continue on its confused path until then and even possibly in the run-up to the 14th General Election due in 2018.”

He was commenting on former PAS Vice-President Husam Musa calling on Hadi to step aside and let his deputy Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man take over the reins of party which has been hit by defections.

“This is necessary to bring about change in the party in line with its political struggle,” the analyst quoted Husam as saying. Husam added that PAS was now at a crossroads, confused, facing distractions and disruptions, led by leaders uncertain of the party’s direction.

Between the crossroads, confusion, distractions and disruptions mentioned by Husam, said Shahbudin, was the contradictory statements being issued by PAS leaders on various issues. “As Husam pointed out, these contradictions can only be ironed out if Hadi makes way for Tuan Ibrahim.”

On the Umno front, Shahbudin sees no change of leadership in the works following Najib’s decision to put off the party polls for 18 months from its scheduled date in 2016 i.e. until after GE14.

“At the same time, those who are critical of the party leadership and the Najib administration are being sacked from the party, investigated and/or their positions in the party possibly frozen soon.”

It appears that the prospects of winning the 14th GE, or losing it, do not figure at the moment in Umno’s calculations under Najib. “The emphasis is on Najib remaining party president and Prime Minister,” pointed out Shahbudin.