I feel compelled to respond to the opinion that PAS may have become a \u2018saturated\u2019 party. But first of all let me state that in all situations, PAS not only has thrived but it has grown from phase to phase.<\/p>\n
When we win, we serve. When we lose, our journey never ends.<\/p>\n
Despite this, there have been claims that PAS is in a saturated state\u2014devoid of fresh ideas and new political strategies\u2014simply because its leadership has not changed for a long time. This situation, it is said, will cause the younger generation and fence-sitters to become disinterested in PAS, even distancing themselves from the party.<\/p>\n
I respect this viewpoint. However, before making such claims, do weigh the points of broad organisational dynamics of PAS, the deep influence of PAS and the far-reaching horizon of PAS\u2019s journey.<\/p>\n
Allow me to elaborate on these three dimensions:<\/p>\n
(i) PAS\u2019s Organisational Dynamics Are \u2018Organic\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n PAS\u2019s membership continues to grow, now exceeding 1 million active members, with branches and divisions across the country, from Perlis to Sabah. Its activities continue to expand, driven by grassroots machinery at every level, in the fields of welfare, education (tarbiyah), outreach (dakwah), and politics.<\/p>\n Every day, we engage thousands of students through PASTI & SRITI (PAS-linked preschools and primary schools), including their parents\u2014typically in their 20s, 30s, and 40s\u2014producing over a million alumni (including myself), all established through community funding without government allocations.<\/p>\n In this regard, the government should be thankful to PASTI for easing the government\u2019s fiscal burden in providing quality preschool education to the community. PASTI\u2019s success is evident not just academically, but also in character, spirituality, and physical development.<\/p>\n Moreover, every week PAS engages with various segments of society through welfare and community activities\u2014sports, clean-up drives, and home visits\u2014cutting across ethnic groups and age demographics, often with no political agenda involved.<\/p>\n Here, we see the wide and vibrant dynamics of PAS\u2019s organisation, driven by leaders and members at all levels, consistently generating fresh ideas and new approaches to expand PAS\u2019s influence in society\u2014without weariness or boredom.<\/p>\n (ii) The Growth of PAS\u2019s Influence is Exponential<\/em><\/p>\n If I may use an analogy, PAS is like a thriving tree, green and towering. Its roots spread deep and strong, its branches wide, offering shade and shelter.<\/p>\n While the leadership remains at the top, the \u2018growth\u2019 at all levels has never been stunted. In fact, from the branches that were \u2018pruned\u2019 at the 2015 PAS Muktamar (now a full 10 years ago), new branches and flourishing offshoots have grown.<\/p>\n Post-GE14 (14th General Election), PAS\u2019s influence has expanded from rural villages to cities, from universities to corporate offices. Once labelled as backward, rigid, or extreme, PAS is now increasingly accepted for its presence and diversity\u2014even though some remain doubtful due to fear mongering by certain parties, particularly the DAP.<\/p>\n (iii) The Horizon of PAS\u2019s Journey is Far-Reaching<\/em><\/p>\n The cultivation of new leaders and talent development within PAS continues at every level. No one is hasty, let alone obsessed with chasing positions, because we understand that leadership is a trust and responsibility.<\/p>\n Since Malaysia\u2019s first general election, PAS has been the most experienced political party in participating in democratic parliamentary elections.<\/p>\n As a result, PAS has been both in opposition and in government, at state and federal levels.<\/p>\n When we win, we serve. When we lose, our journey never ends.<\/p>\n One need only reflect on the lines in the PAS Official Song to understand this spirit:<\/p>\n Move forward to the gates of service, In Closing: Lessons from Ibn Khaldun\u2019s \u201cCycle Theory\u201d<\/p>\n Allow me to share the “Cycle Theory” put forward by Ibn Khaldun.<\/p>\n Though originally referring to the development of civilisations, it can also be applied to organisations made up of human beings.<\/p>\n In his magnum opus Muqaddimah, Ibn Khaldun introduced the Cycle Theory to explain the rise, dominance, and eventual decline of civilizations.<\/p>\n He explains that every civilisation or empire goes through stages much like human life: beginning with emergence and development (infancy and youth), moving into dominance and glory (adulthood), followed by decline (old age\/senility), and finally collapse (death). \u201cSuch are the days (of varying fortunes) We give to men by turns\u2026\u201d (Surah Ali-Imran, Verse 140)<\/p>\n Returning to the view that PAS is \u2018saturated\u2019.<\/p>\n Let us examine this idea in the context of Ibn Khaldun\u2019s Cycle Theory, PAS is still in the phase of Emergence and Development\u2014a crucial stage before entering Dominance and Glory, if God wills it.<\/p>\n Therefore, to say that PAS has reached saturation point at this early stage is deeply misguided.<\/p>\n In many aspects, I am uncertain about the fate of Malaysia\u2019s oldest political party\u2014UMNO and Barisan Nasional.<\/p>\n Nor can I predict the rise and fall of the MADANI Government under PM10, PKR and Pakatan Harapan\u2014whether they are currently in the stage of emergence, dominance, or nearing decline.<\/p>\n That\u2019s for the people to decide.<\/p>\n Nonetheless, PAS remains open to feedback, criticism, and self-reflection\u2014because that is the core mission of PAS: to call for righteousness and prevent wrongdoing. A mission that will never reach a saturation point, and knows no fatigue or boredom.<\/p>\n Final Words<\/p>\n To all PAS members and leaders\u2014have a blessed Muktamar (annual general assembly). If the 2024 Muktamar featured the President\u2019s keynote themed \u201cIslam Is the Solution\u201d, then surely this year\u2019s keynote will be even more significant in defining PAS\u2019s stance, position, and direction toward greater heights.<\/p>\n May your Muktamar proceed smoothly, God willing.<\/p>\n Note: The author is the Political Secretary to the PAS President (who has withdrawn from contesting in this year\u2019s Muktamar)<\/p>\n Syahir Sulaiman, *Tulisan ini adalah pandangan peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya menggambarkan pendirian kami. Segala risiko akibat penyiaran artikel ini menjadi tanggungjawab penulis sendiri.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" PAS thrives, grows, and serves, never saturated in its mission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":170,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[55],"authors":[103],"class_list":["post-169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politik","tag-pas","authors-syahir-sulaiman"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/malaysianometry.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/malaysianometry.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/malaysianometry.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malaysianometry.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malaysianometry.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/malaysianometry.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malaysianometry.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/malaysianometry.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malaysianometry.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malaysianometry.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=169"},{"taxonomy":"authors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malaysianometry.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/authors?post=169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nVictory or defeat is not the reason;
\nPurify the intention in your heart,
\nUntil the truth of God\u2019s promise becomes reality.<\/p>\n
\nI share this as a reminder for us all\u2014that Malaysia as a nation, and any party or government that governs it in succession, must always uphold justice and avoid oppression or tyranny.<\/p>\n
\nThe 71st PAS Annual Muktamar 2025 is especially meaningful this year, taking place on 15\u201316 September in Kedah Darul Aman, in conjunction with the 62nd Malaysia Day celebration.<\/p>\n
\nMember of Parliament for Bachok
\n9 September 2025<\/p>\n