As the aftermath of the Kemaman by-election victory unfolds, questions about the leadership direction of PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) are surfacing, prompting veteran DAP (Democratic Action Party) figure Lim Kit Siang to contemplate a change in leadership. The win by Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar has sparked discussions about the need for a more moderate and progressive leadership within the party.
Lim Kit Siang congratulated Ahmad Samsuri for his triumph in the Kemaman by-election. However, he raised significant queries about the future of PAS under the presidency of Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang. He pondered whether Hadi Awang would consider stepping down, allowing Samsuri to lead PAS towards a more moderate and open-minded trajectory.
Expressing his concerns, Lim Kit Siang emphasized the potential implications for Malaysia if the principal party of the Opposition in Parliament is steered by individuals lacking media literacy, including those holding esteemed academic qualifications.
The veteran politician stressed the critical need for leaders capable of discerning truth from falsehood, identifying fake news, and navigating the nuances of modern media landscapes.
Furthermore, Lim Kit Siang voiced deep distress over the absence of condemnation from PAS leaders regarding an incident involving a PAS MP who allegedly made baseless and defamatory statements against him. He highlighted the seriousness of the situation, stating his dismay that no PAS leader had criticized the accusations made by the MP, which linked him to Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and the former Malayan Communist Party secretary-general Chin Peng.
In response to these allegations, Lim Kit Siang, along with Lim Guan Eng and Teresa Kok, initiated separate defamation suits against PAS's Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad. They sought legal recourse against what they deemed as libel and slander, citing reputational damage caused by unverified claims made in a TikTok video posted on an online news portal by Siti Mastura.
The Kemaman by-election on November 27 saw Ahmad Samsuri securing victory for PAS with a resounding majority of over 37,000 votes, according to the official results declared by the Election Commission. In a head-to-head contest against Barisan Nasional candidate Gen (Rtd) Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor, Samsuri clinched 64,998 votes, surpassing his opponent's 27,778 votes, securing a significant margin of 37,220 votes.
The aftermath of this election has ignited discussions not only about the triumph of Ahmad Samsuri but also about the potential shifts in PAS leadership, urging a reexamination of the party's ideological stance and leadership principles amidst ongoing issues of defamation and political responsibility.
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