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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright June 2023
What are the chances of Sanusi, currently serving as the Election Director of PAS and the Chief Minister of Kedah, becoming the president of the party and eventually the Prime Minister of Malaysia?
Do you envision him as the Prime Minister of the country? Well, within the current party structure, it seems unlikely.
However, we cannot be certain until Sanusi decides to contest the position of party president and successfully defeat the incumbent.
On the other hand, it should be noted that Hadi, the current president, is a formidable figure in his own right.
Now, why are we discussing Sanusi, or SanuC as he is popularly known in Kedah, challenging Hadi?
According to Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi, a columnist for Sin Chew Daily, Kedah's Chief Minister Sanusi is a serious contender for the presidency of PAS and, perhaps, even the post of Prime Minister in the upcoming GE16.
Tajuddin suggests that Hadi Awang is aged and in poor health. Additionally, Bersatu president and Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, like Hadi, is outdated and likely to be preoccupied with court cases, making him an ineffective Prime Minister.
Tajuddin predicts that if PAS were to win six state elections, Sanusi could potentially become our next Prime Minister.
Furthermore, as an election director, Sanusi is responsible for delivering positive results. His success in the forthcoming polls could give him an advantage over others if he aspires to lead the Islamic party.
Despite Tajuddin labelling Sanusi as a political clown and a buffoon, he acknowledges that Sanusi possesses a deep understanding of Malay politics. In fact, according to Tajuddin, Sanusi has mastered the skills of managing Malay politics similar to Umno and is fully utilizing them by positioning Chinese and non-Muslims as adversaries in the Malay heartlands.
Tajuddin also characterizes Sanusi as rude, aggressive, and loud enough to be a Malay leader. He believes these characteristics are essential for succeeding as a Malay leader, and Sanusi possesses them all.
We are aware that Sanusi is vocal about issues such as Penang's water supply and the rental owed by the island state to Kedah.
The Malay population, in general, appreciates a leader who is assertive, aggressive, and willing to confront their equally chauvinistic counterparts across the divide. The public cheers each time Sanusi makes a point. The average Malays seek a hero, and SanuC fits the bill.
Although many educated Malay intellectuals, including Tajuddin, may not like Sanusi, he endorses him: "To me, Sanusi shows more courage and daring than Muhyiddin and Hadi Awang combined."
Tajuddin concludes, saying, "Step aside, Hadi, and let Sanusi be the new PAS president."
This sentiment also extends to "smooth-talking PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man or its secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan."
Being softly spoken may not be sufficient to wake up those on the other side of the political spectrum.
Sanusi is the man! He has the potential to be a contender for PMXI.
We reserve our judgment about the man because we do not possess a crystal ball as clear as Tajuddin's.
We will have to wait and see what the "green wave" or "tsunami of discontent," as KJ puts it, brings in August.
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