PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has cautioned his party’s youth members against being too eager to win power, saying haste and disunity could hurt their cause.
He said some in the party, especially among the youth, were too “gopoh” (hasty).
Hadi’s caution apparently came in response to a youth delegate’s call for deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man to be the prime ministerial candidate. The PAS number two later dismissed it as a joke.
“There are those already eyeing positions, hoping to become ministers or even the prime minister. But don’t jump too soon, you may fall,” Hadi said in his nearly two-hour-long winding-up address at the PAS muktamar.
Hadi said true victory would come with hard work, unity and discipline, not ambition alone.
“Young people must not rush. The moment we lack patience, we risk losing everything,” he said, adding that power is a trust, not a prize, and must be “handled with care and maturity”.
“Don’t apply pressure on our elected representatives. Don’t be the ones to bring them down,” he said.
Hadi also reminded members that loyalty and obedience to party leadership was a religious duty, and that even if one disagreed with a leader’s decisions, they must still remain loyal as long as the leader was appointed through the proper party process.
“Obeying and being loyal to God, the Prophet and leaders appointed by the party is important,” he said.
Hadi also warned against factionalism, saying only the PAS central leadership has the right to decide on menteri besar appointments and election candidates.
He said some members wanted leaders who suited their group interests or preferences, but that’s not how PAS operate.
“Obedience and loyalty are often shaken by the devil’s whispers,” he said.
