Yusof Rawa
يوسف بن عبدالله
1st Spiritual Leader of the Malaysian Islamic Party
In office
1987–1995
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byNik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat
5th President of the Malaysian Islamic Party
In office
1982–1989
Preceded byAsri Muda
Succeeded byFadzil Noor
Personal details
Born
Yusof bin Abdullah

8 May 1922
Lebuh Acheh, George Town, Penang, Straits Settlements
Died27 April 2000(2000-04-27) (aged 77)
Cause of deathPneumonia
SpouseKalsom Ali
ChildrenMujahid Yusof Rawa (son)
ParentAbdullah Nordin al-Rawi
NicknamePak Yusof

Yusof bin Abdullah (Jawi: يوسف بن عبدالله; 8 May 1922 – 27 April 2000) was a Malaysian politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP), 1st Spiritual Leader and 5th President of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) from 1987 to 1995 and from 1982 to 1989 respectively. His legal name was Yusof Abdullah.[1] He was the father of Mujahid Yusof Rawa, the Senator and Deputy President of the National Trust Party (AMANAH).

Early career

Yusof joined PAS in 1951, and notably unseated future Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad from the seat of Kota Setar Selatan in the 1969 election.[1][2] Yusof was appointed as a Deputy Minister while PAS was a member of the governing Barisan Nasional coalition in the 1970s, and also served as Malaysia's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Turkey and Iran.[1] He also served as Malaysian delegate to the United Nations.

President of PAS

Yusof became the President of PAS in 1982, winning the post uncontested after a leadership crisis in the party.[3] His election was seen as a victory for the ulama faction of the party as his predecessor, Asri Muda, was considered not an alim.[4] Asri's leadership was notable for the shifting of PAS's outlook towards Malay nationalism. Both joining the Barisan Nasional coalition and moving away from religious-based policy platforms caused the party to lose support.[5]

Yusof subsequently attempted to increase the influence of the ulama within PAS,[6] surrounding himself with ulama leaders such as Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and Abdul Hadi Awang.[7] The direction of his leadership of the party was seen as firmly Islamist:[8] under his presidency, the party adopted an Islamic State as official policy, and proposed to limit the powers of Parliament to be subject to the oversight of an "Ulama Assembly".[7] At the same time, he steered the party away from Malay nationalism and introduced significant changes to the party's internal structure. One change was to introduce the position of "Spiritual Leader", of which he was the first occupant.[7] His leadership style has been described as "fiery and outspoken".[7] He resigned in 1989 citing health reasons,[9] and was replaced by his deputy Fadzil Noor,[10] who set the party on a more moderate path.[11]

Personal life

Yusof died in Penang on 28 April 2000.[1] His son, Mujahid Yusof Rawa, became a member of parliament in 2008[12] and a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Religious Affairs in 2018.

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1959 Seberang Utara Yusof Rawa (PAS) 4,537 26.25% Ahmad Saaid (UMNO) 12,748 73.75% 17,534 8,211 76.31%
1964 Perlis Selatan Yusof Rawa (PAS) 7,250 40.88% Mokhtar Ismail (UMNO) 10,486 59.12% 18,579 3,236 80.39%
1969 Kota Star Selatan Yusof Rawa (PAS) 13,021 51.97% Mahathir Mohamad (UMNO) 12,032 48.03% 25,680 989 80.26%
1974 Ulu Muda Yusof Rawa (PAS)
Unopposed
1982 Kubang Pasu Yusof Rawa (PAS) 8,763 26.33% Mahathir Mohamad (UMNO) 24,524 73.67% 34,340 15,761 78.79%
1986 Tasek Gelugor Yusof Rawa (PAS) 6,796 29.93% Mohammed Yusoff Abdul Latib (UMNO) 15,911 70.07% 23,269 9,115 75.01%

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Demise of a respected Islamic leader, scholar". New Straits Times. 28 April 2000. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  2. ↑ "Do not be complacent, says Dr Mahathir". New Straits Times. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  3. ↑ "Pas will be reorganised, says Yusof Rawa". New Straits Times. 24 April 1983. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  4. ↑ Liew Chin Tong (2007). Southeast Asian Affairs 2007. p. 206. ISBN 978-981-230-442-1.
  5. ↑ Matheson Hooker, Virginia; Norani Othman (2003). Malaysia: Islam, society and politics. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 204. ISBN 981-230-161-5.
  6. ↑ Matheson Hooker, Virginia; Norani Othman (2003). Malaysia: Islam, society and politics. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 208. ISBN 981-230-161-5.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Noor, Farish (1 August 2003). "Blood, sweat and jihad: the radicalization of the political discourse of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) from 1982 onwards". Contemporary Southeast Asia. doi:10.1355/CS25-2B.
  8. ↑ Joseph Chinyong Liow (2009). Piety and Politics: Islamism in Contemporary Malaysia. Oxford University Press US. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-19-537708-8.
  9. ↑ "Yusof Rawa to quit as Pas president". New Straits Times. 16 February 1989. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  10. ↑ A. Ghani Ismail (5 April 1989). "Change puts Pas leadership at the crossroads". New Straits Times. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  11. ↑ Liow, Joseph Chinyong (2009). Piety and Politics: Islamism in Contemporary Malaysia. Oxford University Press. p. 76. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "Game for laughs". The Star. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
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