High ambitions: PAS party leaders have now set their sights on the top post in Perikatan, and the country. Will voters be drawn to their political stance though? — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
IT’S clear now that PAS knows the party will head nowhere if it cannot win over the votes of non-Muslims, particularly the Chinese and Indians, as well as the non-Muslim bumiputras in Sabah and Sarawak. The only snag is – the Islamist party has no idea about how it can gain the confidence of these crucial voters.
There seemed to be a slight improvement at its recently concluded party general assembly when deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man proposed Tamil and Mandarin lessons in schools to boost unity.
At first glance, it appears to be an inclusive call but for many, it was merely a gesture. PAS could not respond convincingly when the party was asked if it was ready to offer these language classes at its own preschool network, Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam.
Both languages are currently already available in schools if there is a demand from students and if teachers are available.
But students often do not take languages seriously as they are not compulsory subjects.
Still, the suggestion was far better than the call by a delegate last year – he had wanted his audience to marry non-Malays for votes. Granted, it was intended to be a light-hearted proposal but it still ignited much criticism.
Little has changed this year, with a Penang youth leader reportedly saying there is “no way” a non-Muslim can become a leader of Muslims.
It was an apparent reference to Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau, who was fielded by Opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional in the Malay-majority state seat of Bayan Lepas in the 2023 Penang elections.
While it is understandable that politicians want to galvanise the party faithful at annual meetings with provocative statements, PAS’ bravado in declaring its interest in wresting Pahang, Perak, and Selangor under its control is enough to spook non-Muslims.
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan also sent a clear message: that the party is now prepared to lead Perikatan.
He may not have said it in so many words, but it did seem to imply that the party is ready to take the prime ministership.
Non-Muslims can stomach PAS being a senior partner in the federal government but for it to play head honcho? That is a different game.
All these bold announcements are unlikely to shift negative perceptions non-Muslim have of the party. They may have even led to further alienation of the non- Muslims.
PAS leaders may have the impression that Malaysians are reacting negatively to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the expanded sales and services tax, rising cost of living, gloomy business environment, and perceived delay in reforms. But the most PAS can hope for from this is that non- Muslims will stay away from the voting centres. Don’t expect them to cross the ballot papers for PAS candidates.
In any case, there are still two years to the polls.
Let’s be frank. PAS has no idea how it can win the hearts and minds of non-Muslims. Many of its leaders are from the East Coast states which does not allow them the opportunity to interact much with non-Muslims, who are a comparatively small community there.
It’s strange, but PAS actually believes that Kelantan is a shining example of how a state should be governed when most non-Muslims actually think that it is underdeveloped and badly administered.
Many of us often wonder why the people of the state continue to keep the PAS state government in power. Kelantan is no model state.
PAS has heavy baggage. It will not change overnight and it very likely will not want to.
It has historically positioned itself as an Islamist party with the goal of implementing syariah law and turning Malaysia into an Islamic state.
This narrative has created deep distrust among non-Muslims (and even some moderate Muslims), who worry about the erosion of secular governance, infringement on minority rights, and policies based on religious doctrine rather than pluralistic values.
The harsh reality is that PAS has a track record of exclusionary rhetoric – yet it wonders why non-Muslims cannot accept it, preferring to blame the media and political opponents for this.
Over the years, various PAS leaders have made remarks many have perceived as divisive, including calling non-Muslims “kafir” or infidels.
In fact, the PAS non-Muslim supporters’ wing chief K. Deepakaran has called on party members to refrain from using terms like “kafir” or “pendatang” (migrant) as such labels would offend non-Muslims.
When non-Muslims look at PAS, they see bans on alcohol, concerts, and cinemas, dress codes, gender segregation, and moral policing.
They are not going to buy any assurances from PAS that non-Muslim lifestyles will not be affected because they know that if PAS takes over the country, there will be dark clouds – and the beginning of an end to the life they enjoy now.
There will be no turning back, just like what happened in Iran and Afghanistan. While comparisons with these two nations may be unfair, PAS makes no apologies for its promotion of a strict, conservative Islamic lifestyle.
This is at odds with Malaysia’s more diverse urban fabric, and cosmopolitan non-Muslim communities fear social regression under PAS-style governance.
More importantly, PAS does not have enough leaders with strong academic credentials and corporate backgrounds.
The party structure is such that these leaders have to play second fiddle. It is the theologians who call the shots.
Surely voters, including Muslims, see the incompetence of these leaders in states like Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, and Terengganu which remain the country’s poorest. They see laggard economic development, limited job opportunities and a lack of infrastructure.
They see how Langkawi, once a thriving tourist spot, has deteriorated with even Kedahans preferring to cross over to Hatyai, Thailand, instead.
Most non-Muslims do not believe that PAS has any systematic transformation plan that includes them. Where are the inclusive, value-driven governance models and the public statements to improve the rights and roles of non-Muslims?
The non-Muslim PAS supporters are seen as lightweight token leaders, and worse, opportunistic.
The party has rightly dropped its controversial Perak chief, Razman Zakaria, after 13 years at the state’s helm, and replaced him with Bagan Serai MP Datuk Idris Ahmad.
Razman became notorious for making false statements, such as linking Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to YTL Corporation Berhad, for which he later had to apologise when proved wrong. He also had to say sorry to DAP leader Nga Kor Ming after wrongly accusing the Teluk Intan MP of waving a China flag at a cultural event last year.
And let’s not forget that the party’s Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura was ordered by a High Court to pay RM850,000 in damages to DAP leaders Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng and Teresa Kok for incorrectly linking them with the late Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng and late Singapore premier Lee Kuan Yew.
If PAS is serious about wanting to win the confidence of non- Muslims, it has to engage more with non-Muslim organisations at all levels and spectrums. It should be prepared to collaborate on common platforms with multi-ethnic, multi-religious parties to promote common values that cut across all religions.
It needs to soften its hardcore Islamist stance, with its leaders showing they are ready to be present at non-Muslim cultural events.
But most important of all – are PAS leaders able to talk about economic issues and to promote enough trust and confidence that they are not merely experts in religion but also capable of taking Malaysia to the next level of economic development?
It’s hard to see that happening. Unfortunately, PAS continues to be perceived as a threat to Malaysia’s pluralism rather than a viable representative of non-Muslim interests.
