Political analyst Sivamurugan Pandian said PAS’ push to implement the Syariah based law would put the many “liberal, moderate and western educated” members in Ikatan at odds with the Islamist party.
“It will certainly have an impact because this was the same reason PAS and DAP could not get along in Pakatan Rakyat. Although some top leaders think they can deal with it later, the grassroots leaders may want to know from the very beginning the direction the new pact is heading towards.
“Unless they can find a win-win solution, it does not look good for Ikatan,” he told FMT.
It was reported earlier today that PAS’ Ulama Council chief, Dr Mahfodz Mohamad, said the Islamist party would pursue its goal to implement hudud as it was the party’s ideology since day one of its formation and the party would never do away with it.
PAS and Ikatan had announced their alliance last week, in a bid to form a third Opposition bloc.
Tony Looi, a vice-president of Ikatan, said the party would not support hudud under any circumstances.
Wong Chin Huat, who heads the Penang Institute for Political and Social Analysis meanwhile laughed off any talk of hudud when asked, stating it did not matter as Ikatan was insignificant.
Ikatan, he said, had no “clear image, clear leadership and clearly defined target audience.” He also described Ikatan as one of those parties that was just trying its luck in the next general election.
“They are like mushrooms after the rain. Even mushrooms have a better chance of survival.”
Wong was also of the opinion that PAS was “very desperate” at the moment and trying to achieve something significant in challenging political times.
“They are desperate to look for partners. No one will remember this a year from now, honestly.”
Meanwhile, MP for Bukit Bendera Zairil Khir Johari of DAP criticised the shaky partnership of the two parties and said, “Malaysians can make up their minds about this new pact between PAS and Ikatan, but the contradictory statements from both parties is proof of how solid the foundation of their relationship is.”