Samsuri eyeing bigger role in leaving Marang PAS chief post, says analyst
Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who has been the Marang PAS chief since 2019, announced yesterday that he would not be defending his position. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : An analyst has described Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar's decision not to defend his post as Marang PAS chief as a possible move towards pursuing a higher position in the party.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Samsuri's decision to relinquish the post he had held for years might not simply be about injecting 'fresh energy' into the division.
Speaking to FMT, he said it might be an early signal of bigger political ambitions ahead of the 16th general election (GE16).
'There's a possibility that Samsuri is looking ahead – letting go of a less significant position to vie for a more influential one, such as the PAS deputy presidency.
'From a different aspect, it could be a message from the party leadership: that the old guard should make way for new leaders,' he told FMT.
Samsuri, who has been the Marang PAS chief since 2019, announced yesterday that he would not be defending his position.
He said he believed the time had come for someone else to carry on the struggle.
Terengganu PAS committee member Hanafiah Mat said Samsuri's decision to step down was due to his 'huge mission' of preparing for GE16.
PAS spiritual adviser Hashim Jasin said Samsuri's decision to step down as Marang commissioner was a non-issue since he was still a party vice-president and the Terengganu menteri besar.
Meanwhile, Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia said Samsuri's decision could be tied to political manoeuvring within PAS.
She said the move might appear to be about opening up space for new leaders, but could also be interpreted as a response to growing unease among certain factions over Samsuri's position.
'I think Samsuri is prioritising the party's interests, especially if there are already voices expressing uneasiness with his leadership,' she said.
She did not rule out the possibility that Samsuri might also decline to defend his PAS vice-presidency in the upcoming party elections.
'If the voices opposing Samsuri grow louder, and more party leaders withdraw their support for him, it's possible that he will no longer remain as menteri besar.
'But I believe Terengganu PAS will be fine. In fact, it might even become more stable after this,' she added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Tengku Zafrul sees Google's investment driving Malaysia's AI economy
Tengku Zafrul Aziz, who is on a working visit to the US, says he met Google representatives in Washington. PETALING JAYA : Google's investment in Malaysia is expected to continue driving the country's artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing economy, according to investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz. He said Google's RM9.4 billion investment to set up its first data centre and Google Cloud region in Malaysia could generate up to RM15 billion in long-term economic impact and create 26,500 jobs by 2030. Tengku Zafrul, who is currently on a working visit to the US said he met Google representatives to discuss how the company can continue to drive AI development in Malaysia, strengthen cybersecurity and invest in digital skills. 'The government is committed to providing full support and ensuring a conducive investment climate for high-quality investments,' he said in a Facebook post. Last week, Microsoft reaffirmed its commitment to a RM10.5 billion investment in cloud and AI infrastructure in Malaysia, including the development of hyperscale data centres in the Klang Valley. The announcement came in the wake of a 24% tariff on Malaysian goods announced by the US in April, before a 90-day pause was declared a week later.
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Perlis MB loses in bid for Arau Pas chief post
ARAU: The Pas Arau division polls delivered several surprises as Menteri Besar Shukri Ramli failed in his bid to unseat incumbent Solahudin Azmi from the division chief position. Two state executive councillors in Shukri's state administration also failed in the race for the deputy division chief and vice chief positions. The biggest shock came with the defeat of Shukri, who is also the state Pas commissioner in a straight fight with Solahudin Azmi. He garnered only 43 votes, while Solahudin secured 128 votes. For the deputy division chief position, the state Youth and Sports Committee chairman, Mohd Ridzuan Hashim, who is also Guar Sanji asemblyman, won comfortably with 135 votes, defeating the incumbent and current Perlis state State Assembly speaker, Rus'ele Eizan, who received just 34 votes. In the contest for vice division chief position, the state Agriculture, Plantations and Consumer Affairs Commitee chairman Razali Saad, was defeated after receiving only 39 votes compared to the incumbent Mohd Yusairi Mansor, who won with 130 votes. The Arau Pas division held its annual general meeting today, with participation from 173 delegates representing 60 branches. In his speech, Solahudin expressed gratitude for being re-elected to the position. "This outcome reflects the delegates' confidence in the current leadership team, and it does not diminish the significant contributions of state leaders in steering the administration based on Islamic principles and collective leadership. "Losing in this election doesn't imply a rejection of the state government's leadership, but rather it's a normal process within Pas' mature political culture. "The fact that there was competition in this election proves that Pas practises genuine grassroots democracy," he said. He added that the defeat of several state leaders should not be interpreted as a sign of rejection. "Instead, it offers an opportunity to further strengthen each leader's role within the leadership ranks. "What's more important is that those elected must now shoulder the great responsibility of leading the community," he added. As for the Kangar Pas division, its annual general meeting is scheduled for June 28, where a contest is expected between the incumbent chief, Yussaine Yahya, and Senator Baharudin Ahmad. Meanwhile, in Padang Besar, the upcoming annual meeting on June 22 is also drawing attention as the incumbent chief, Saad Seman will be challenged by fellow state Exco member Muhammad Azmir Azizan.
Free Malaysia Today
12 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Lower courts must follow apex court precedents, says CJ
Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat elaborated on the Federal Court's 40-page judgment which held that a fatwa could not be imposed on an organisation like Sisters in Islam as such entities cannot 'profess' a religion. PUTRAJAYA : Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat has reminded judges in the lower courts that they must adhere to legal precedents set by the Federal Court unless overruled by a subsequent decision from the same court. 'These precedents are binding, and failure to follow them is an affront to the administration of our justice system,' she said in a majority judgment delivered yesterday. The judgment held that a fatwa could not be imposed on an organisation like Sisters in Islam (SIS) as such entities cannot 'profess' a religion. Women's rights group SIS yesterday succeeded in its appeal to the Federal Court to quash a 2014 fatwa issued against it by the Selangor religious authorities. SIS had sought to quash a 2014 fatwa by the Selangor Islamic religious council (Mais) that it had deviated from the teachings of Islam by purportedly subscribing to 'liberalism' and 'religious pluralism'. In allowing SIS's appeal, Tengku Maimun said, the majority accepted the appellants' argument that the Court of Appeal had failed to apply the principle of stare decisis by wrongly attempting to distinguish the case from an earlier decision in SIS Forum (1) without any sound legal basis. Three years ago, a nine-member Federal Court bench led by Tengku Maimun unanimously ruled that it was unconstitutional for the Selangor legislative assembly to grant judicial review powers to the state's shariah high court. In that ruling, the bench also reaffirmed a 1998 apex court decision (Kesultanan Pahang v Sathask Realty Sdn Bhd) which held that corporations cannot profess a religion. 'Consistent with our guidance to the lower courts, we are fully inclined to uphold stare decisis and to follow the precedent established in SIS Forum (1) and Kesultanan Pahang,' she said in the 40-page judgment. Two years ago, the Court of Appeal dismissed SIS's challenge to the fatwa, which claimed that the women's group espoused liberalism and religious pluralism and had deviated from Islamic teachings. In a 2-1 decision, the appellate court concluded that the legal principle established in SIS Forum (1) was merely obiter dicta – a passing judicial remark not binding as precedent. However, Tengku Maimun refuted this, saying that the Federal Court's reasoning in SIS Forum (1) was not obiter dicta, but formed a core part of the court's legal reasoning. The court had held that Section 66A of the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003 was unconstitutional. She further noted that the earlier nine-member bench had ruled that shariah courts cannot conceptually exercise judicial review over artificial persons, such as corporate entities, even if they identify with Islam. Tengku Maimun, Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim and Justice Nallini Pathmanathan formed the majority in yesterday's ruling while Justice Abu Bakar Jais dissented. SIS, a company limited by guarantee and incorporated under the Companies Act 1965, argued that the fatwa was unconstitutional and could not be applied to a corporate entity governed by civil law.
