Terengganu chief minister Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is being slated for a “huge agenda” at Malaysia’s federal level for the opposition coalition. But he must first overcome a tricky by-election contest in a constituency where he is a relatively unknown figure.
Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (centre) on the campaign trail for the Kemaman by-election in the Malaysian state of Terengganu. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
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KEMAMAN, Terengganu: Terengganu chief minister Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar does not come across like your typical Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) politician.
Instead of donning kopiahs (Muslim headgear) and jubahs (traditional Arab garb), the 53-year-old is typically clad in suit and tie for official state events as well as modern baju Melayu with pants when meeting residents.
Dr Ahmad Samsuri is currently contesting a by-election for the federal parliamentary seat of Kemaman in southern Terengganu, where he is in a straight fight against Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate and former army chief Raja Mohamed Affandi.
The by-election was called after a court in Terengganu nullified the victory clinched by PAS candidate Che Alias Hamid in the last General Election. The court cited that corruption had taken place with the aim of influencing voters.
During the course of the campaign in the rural villages of Kemaman, Dr Ahmad Samsuri was seen chatting with youths while playing video games and posing for selfies with residents.
In an interview session with his own media team that was published on his social media pages, Dr Ahmad Samsuri even spoke about how Korean pop culture has helped propel South Korea to the international stage – a surprising endorsement given that many conservative PAS leaders have openly criticised such entertainment avenues.
Kemaman resident Samsiah Mat who sells vegetables at Chukai wet market, told CNA: “Dr Sam is that rare breed of politician who is both intellectual and spiritual. He is a good politician, his leadership skills are good.”
“His way of doing things is clever. A bit different from many other PAS leaders,” added Mdm Samsiah.
Dr Sam is Dr Ahmad Samsuri’s colloquial nickname among many locals across the state.
The decision for PAS to field a high-profile candidate for this federal by-election stunned many observers, given that Dr Ahmad Samsuri is already leading the Terengganu state government.
The party also controls the other remaining seven federal constituency seats in Terengganu.
However, statements made by leaders from PAS recently indicate that the party is signalling that it is ready to take the first steps in reinventing its image and leadership by putting forth a new generation professional leader to the federal level, like Dr Ahmad Samsuri.
PAS is riding on a momentum of popularity since the 2022 General Elections when it clinched 43 seats, making it the party with the largest share of federal seats in the Dewan Rakyat.
However, PAS and its ally party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition did not garner enough seats and support to form the government and are now in the opposition.
In August, PN and PAS continued their good form in the six state elections in peninsular Malaysia, winning comfortably to defend the states of Terengganu, Kedah and Kelantan. The coalition also made in-roads in the states of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang that are held by the unity government coalition led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Analysts told CNA that PAS recognises that while it has increased in popularity, the only way it can break the barrier to be the dominant party in Malaysia and form the next government is that it reinvents its image to appeal to both Malays as well as the non-Malays across the country.
PAS WANTS TO BE THE DOMINANT PARTY IN 10 YEARS: AHMAD SAMSURI
During the interview published by his own team, Dr Ahmad Samsuri himself has acknowledged that over the next decade, PAS needs to plan ahead so that it “not just stays relevant but becomes a party that is able to chart a clear path for the country”.
“We’re not just talking about Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis, but we’re talking about our nation, where the people are diverse and there are various ethnicities, religions and cultures,” he said.
“PAS is not just for Malay and Muslims but it’s for every citizen irregardless of race or religion. This needs effort and planning. In the next 10 years we want PAS to be an extremely dominant party in this country,” added Dr Ahmad Samsuri, who is also state assemblyman for the Ru Rendang constituency in the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly.
Political analyst Norshahril Saat, senior fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute told CNA that putting to the fore candidates like Dr Ahmad Samsuri is a sign that PAS is “making small steps to be more accepted by the broader Malaysian society”.
“I think PAS used to be a party whose (dominance) is quite restricted to the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, mainly in Kelantan and Terengganu and it always pushed on religious fronts,” said Dr Norshahril.
He added: “But I think now it’s aiming bigger and wants to be the party to be taken seriously in Malaysia. For this it has to change its outlook.”
SAMSURI AS FUTURE PM CANDIDATE?
During the Kemaman by-election campaign in recent days, PN leaders have played up Dr Ahmad Samsuri’s outsized importance to the coalition’s cause.
He is a PHD holder in aeroengine ignition and combustion from the University of Leeds. Dr Ahmad Samsuri was also an aerospace lecturer at University Putra Malaysia before joining politics as political secretary to current PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.
The father of six is also a cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with stage 3 nasopharyngeal cancer and undergone various rounds of radiation and chemotherapy.
The party’s deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man told reporters recently that PAS had a “big agenda” when it made the decision to field Dr Ahmad Samsuri for the federal seat.
When asked by local media, Dr Ahmad Samsuri played down the hype and maintained that he was not privy to what this “big agenda” was.
CNA’s request for an interview with Dr Ahmad Samsuri was turned down, with an official in his press team citing a packed campaign schedule.
Furthermore, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also PN chairman and Bersatu president, told reporters during a press conference in Kemaman that “it cannot be denied” that fielding Dr Ahmad Samsuri in Kemaman is a stepping stone to pave the way for him to be a future prime minister candidate.
“So all these moves are strategic steps which can show to the rakyat (public) we have many leaders who are intelligent, capable, with praiseworthy behaviour, and that there are moderates and professionals (among us),” said Muhyiddin.
Dr Norshahril said that Muhyiddin’s statement could be election rhetoric to garner votes for the by-election. However, he opined that Muhyiddin “is making a safe statement” and that Dr Ahmad Samsuri is an all-round politician with a strong track record at the state level, and perhaps ready to be “parachuted to the federal level”.
“Samsuri is somebody who can manage not only the ground or identity aspects of religion, but also govern the economy, the government development, new ideas, etc,” said Dr Norshahril.
“I think in a way PAS is trying to shift its approach by not only looking at religion as a source of legitimacy,” he added.
Political scientist Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) echoed similar sentiments.
He told CNA that Dr Ahmad Samsuri’s leadership is best outlined by how he led PAS Terengganu to a clean sweep in August’s state elections by clinching all 32 state seats. Terengganu is the only state in the country where all seats in the state government are held by a single coalition.
“He already has executive experience at the state level and now he can parlay it to federal level and govern the country one day. If PN ever comes to power, then I agree that Samsuri will be the likeliest prime minister candidate,” added Assoc Prof Azmil.
LONG WAY TO GO FOR PAS TO APPEAL TO NON-MALAYS
For PAS’ move to bear fruit, Dr Ahmad Samsuri must first clinch victory in Saturday’s by-election.
However, a win is no guarantee. Before 2018, the Kemaman parliamentary seat was a BN stronghold, with former ministers Ahmad Sabery Cheek and Mansor Said both having held the seat for long stretches.
The unity government coalition is determined to push for an unlikely win for its candidate Raja Mohamed, with Mr Anwar campaigning on his behalf in various parts of the constituency on Wednesday (Nov 29).
At the federal level, BN forms the unity government along with Mr Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan coalition as well as several Borneo-based parties.
Mdm Woo Siew Hion, a resident in Chukai town, added that she does not know Dr Sam well, unlike Raja Mohamed who is a local.
“Because (Dr Sam) is from (Northern) Terengganu, we are from Kemaman. When there is an election, he suddenly emerges,” said Mdm Woo.
Furthermore, in spite of Dr Ahmad Samsuri’s personality and leadership, he still carries the weight of PAS’ perception as being inattentive to the needs of the non-Malays.
“We are very fearful (of PAS). This cannot, that cannot. We are scared. We are not the same (ethnicity). We will struggle,” added Mdm Woo.
Analyst Dr Norshahril maintained that PAS still has “a long way to go” before it can gain the trust of the non Malays in both Peninsula and East Malaysia.
“It’s still a challenge for PAS because it’s not only about development, not only about good policies, so trying to manage identity is still important,” said Dr Norshahril.
“But I think they’re making small steps to actually be more accepted in the broader Malaysian society.”
