Will DSAI take on PAS? When, where, and how?

Long before this Green Tidal Wave was even a wicked glint in the eyes of Hadi, there was Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia - ABIM - the original spear-point of the Islamic socio/political re-awakening led by Anwar Ibrahim. ABIM became a counterpoint to Umno's nationalist/materialist approach and excited many young Malays everywhere in the 1970s. The impact of ABIM on the national political discourse is profound: Anwar's ABIM colleague, Fadzil Noor, led PAS as its president. A rural personality of the early years became ABIM chief of Trengganu. His name Hadi Awang. And today, Anwar Ibrahim is prime minister.

Most people expect Anwar Ibrahim to join PAS and take over from Fadzil Noor and transform PAS into a progressive Islamic movement to challenge Umno with an agenda based on Islamic welfare state principles of equity, social equality, and justice, but sensing the global tide posed by the Iran revolution (and Saudi reaction), Mahathir decided to thwart PAS rise by kidnapping Anwar Ibrahim for Umno...and the rest is history.

Today, the Malays are more religious-minded than the generations that came before them. This is a good development. More pray regularly, become more responsible and their love for Islam is greater. The love for PAS - has also increased.

Religious-mindedness is very difficult to counter.

If you ask the Malays in Kelantan and Terengganu, they will tell you "ambo pilih party Islam tak akan pilih party lain" and today the Malays in Kedah, and other states are also with PAS. Contrary to what is being said of these Malays, these are good Malays...mereka ni orang baik, jaga sembahyang, jaga anak - masuk University. These Malays regard PAS in the literal meaning of the word: Parti Islam Se-Malaysia -ISLAMIC.

The original progressive Islamic vision that Anwar and his colleagues shared when they founded ABIM has now been hijacked by Hadi. Islam is now being used to achieve the political ends of PAS. For PAS, the separation of religion and politics is not Islamic. Islam embraced everything. The Prophet, and the early caliphs were religious and political figures and Hadi sees himself in the same light.

How will Anwar deal with the Green Wave that now questions the legitimacy of the Pakatan Harapan-led government? How will Anwar stem the Green Wave that offers itself as the ISLAMIC alternative to the corrupt Umno, and an alternative to PH that has DAP (read non-Muslim) within its ranks?

The results of PRU 15 have already confirmed the length and breadth of PAS hold over Malay Muslims. They are the party with the largest number of seats over anyone else. The recent election in Padang Serai, where they won with a majority of 16K, confirms that reality.

How will Anwar see the resurgence of PAS with its vision that is quite inconsistent with the original progressive Islamic idea Anwar and his colleagues shared when they founded ABIM?

PAS is now using anything and everything under Islam and Syariah-complainant not to advance Islam that is in itself Great by Almighty, but using Islam to advance their political agenda by treating people, Muslims included, in a manner that ALLAH surely never intended for them to be treated.

Will Anwar, after stabilizing the economy, roll up his sleeves and enter into a vigorous intellectual, theological and philosophical contestation with PAS to determine the future character of the Malay Muslim?

Will Anwar debate PAS? These challenges and responses at the mental level can have positive, not divisive outcomes. There is no one more qualified than Anwar Ibrahim to take on the Green Wave. He has a track record, the contacts, and the resources to do so. He has to make this fight, but I hope, he will not leave it too late.

I hope that he will not leave it too late to stem the green tidal wave that threatens to engulf the Malay Muslim diaspora. Too late to challenge the raging political flames that have already taken many states in their toxic embrace. Too late because PN has been able to bring to its side, enough Malay Muslim political clout to run PH out of government...and take government, for themselves. Enough said.