Malaccan: PAS moderates and their supporters must speak out or be drowned out by the cacophony of the Islamists who argue from a position of vagueness using symbols and instruments of authority of a religion they do not exclusively own.
We have seen Umno use the 3Rs – religion, royalty and race – which they have no exclusive claim over, and have, in fact, been abusing. All in PAS are Muslims and there is no need for any faction to say they are more Muslim than others.Religion must be more than rhetoric and dogma, and be relevant and applicable to society.

It is ironic that in religious organisations, some leaders who initially formed the intellectual core of their community morphed into a group that decries and denies the intellectuals when they can’t win an argument.

Mohamad (Mat) Sabu and his PAS colleagues like Khalid Samad, Husam Musa and Mujahid Yusof Rawa are being bitterly attacked by these Islamists for the reform, direction and leadership they bring.

SSDhaliwal: Mat Sabu is absolutely right: religiosity will not fly anymore. What everyone wants, Muslim or non-Muslim is social justice and equality.

Kim Quek: This is a clear message to the Islamist fundamentalists not to ‘over flex’ its muscles, lest the party will be abandoned by the people.

Indeed, times have changed, so too must PAS if it wants to be relevant in the current complexities of multiracial politics.

The conservative Islamist agenda pushed by the syura council is an embarrassment to Pakatan Rakyat and a major stumbling block in PAS’ ambition to expand its sphere of influence, particularly for winning more electoral seats.

Coming back to the present crisis in Selangor, PAS in fact can play a pivotal role to overcome the impasse.

A positive expression of solidarity with PKR and DAP now in the form of consensus in the nomination of PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for MB would help to convince the sultan that it is in the best interest of Selangor to adhere to the constitution and follow convention.

Will the pro-Pakatan faction seize the precious moment in the coming muktamar this week to loosen the grip of the Islamist fundamentalists, and hopefully veer the party towards such a constructive course?

Haveagreatday: You speak with your heart, Mat Sabu, and it resonates with the man in the street.

I can only hope and pray that leaders like you will remain in the fore of PAS and not be forced out by that wolf in religious clothing – Abdul Hadi Awang.
Mushiro: The damage to PAS done by the ulama in the past few months due to the MB issue is almost irreversible.

The moderates in PAS like Mat Sabu and others could not do much as the ulama are bent on teaming up with Umno. It looks like Hadi is on a suicide mission for PAS.

The only solution for the moderates is to try to move a vote of no confidence against Hadi failing which, PasMa (Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia) should take off on its own. They do not have the luxury of time.

JBond2: Religion thrives in an insecure society where fear, ignorance and herd mentality reign supreme.

In a confident and progressive society, social justice and fairness take root. So the masses will embrace these as the guiding principles of life over other beliefs they may have.

Cocomomo: We definitely need a ‘Jokowi’ for the nation to move forward. Religious and racial extremists in PAS, Umno, Perkasa and Isma should be shunned.

People of all races and beliefs should get together and reject extremism and build a nation based on fairness and justice.

Jaguh: The truth does hurt many in PAS. I hope what you said will make PAS members think of their relevance. Good job, Mat Sabu!

Kamaapo: If religion is handled sanely – as it should – it helps shape men to be more kind, humane, moralistic, empathetic, and colour/creed-blind.

Sadly, the more some become ‘scholarly’ in their religions – all religions – the more bigoted their behaviour becomes.

What is religiosity if it lacks compassion, justice, empathy, fairness, and egalitarianism?

Sadly, of late there are many religious problems. Why did we not have this agonising, narcissistic problems in our nascent post-Independence era of 50s, 60s and even in the 70s, even though Islam was the official religion of the Federation?

Concerned1: Mat Sabu, Khalid Samad must take the lead to kick out all the ‘tukang ugama’ from PAS. Mat Sabu is definitely a future PM candidate; our version of Jokowi.

Pakatan-Ku: Mat Sabu, Khalid Samad, Dzulkefly Ahmad and other Erdogans are the reasons why we voted for PAS. Unless Mat Sabu and group can control the PAS ulama, it is hard to vote for them again.

Isana: It seems the single culprit that is prolonging the Selangor crisis is none other than Hadi.

The president of a party that claimed to represent Islam is not a man of his word, acted against his own party’s direction and belittle a partner party’s president.

I think not only has he shamed his party, he has also lost the trust of many but also he has soiled the religion he represents through his falsehood and recalcitrant attitude.

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