A leopard cannot change its spots, but it can evolve into something else. And thats where the challenge for PAS lies - to adapt to the reality that Malaysia as a whole will NOT accept hardline Islamic rule, regardless of whether it is PAS or UMNO that spearheads it. As it is, its UMNO more than anyone else thats egging PAS on to return to their Islamic state struggle, and pretty much ridiculing their arch rival when signs of adaptation to reality emerge. PAS Ulama wing must realize that UMNOs encouragement is done solely for the nationalist partys benefit. Hardline Islamist rule will be to the detriment of all Malaysians. UMNO knows this, but plays the religion card anyway to their advantage whenever they can, because they know its a short-cut to garnering Malay support. Either directly, or through their out-sourced Islamist agents. In the end, PAS must forge their own path. Walski, however, is of the opinion that being obsessed with the Islamic state ideal will not get the party far, and may even lose whatever ground they have gained in terms of support. There are many virtues that Islam can bring to improve governance of this nation. But the notion that we must become an Islamist state is not something Walski considers a virtue...
Posted on: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 05:20:46 +0000