Publication

This paper discusses the significance to political Islam and opposition politics in Malaysia of the capture of all key leadership positions within the Malaysian Islamist Party (PAS) by a group of purist religious scholars, known as ulama, at the party's June 2015 general assembly. In particular, the author 1) highlights the controversial nature of this victory over more pragmatic members of the PAS; 2) discusses the emergence of a younger and even more conservative generation of ulama (The Young Turks) within the PAS; and 3) contends that the election of the ulama to key positions leaves PAS weakened and could unravel Malaysia's Pakatan opposition alliance.