'Wooing non-Malays will not be a liability for PAS'
Hazlan ZakariaPublished: Jun 13, 2010 10:17 AM | Updated: Jun 13, 2010 10:35 AM
Non-Malay leaders in PAS refuted speculations today that the Islamic party's flirtations with non-Malay/non-Muslims signal the beginning of the end of the party's Malay-based support.
Non-Malay leaders in PAS refuted speculations today that the Islamic party's flirtations with non-Malay/non-Muslims signal the beginning of the end of the party's Malay-based support.
This follows concerns from various quarters that the party risks sidelining its original bulwark as it looks towards non-Malay/non-Muslim support.
The issue had been raised earlier by several delegates in the Islamic party's 56th PAS muktamar (general assembly) at the Islamic Tarbiyah Centre, Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan.
Some even said that DAP's surprise exit from the Barisan Alternatif - the current opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat’s predecessor - in 2001 when it found itself losing Chinese support would find a comparable development occurring to PAS as well.
Approached by Malaysiakini on the sidelines of the muktamar, Titi Serong state representative Khalil Idham Lim (left) said what had happened to DAP then would not befall the Islamic party because of two elements in PAS that the DAP never had.
The first, said the assemblyperson, is principle of tahalluf siyasi (political cooperation) according to which the party must stay true to its Islamic principles in tandem with its cooperation with non-Muslims.
This, he said further, should calm fears that the party may get sidetracked after wooing non-Muslim and non-Malay support.
The second element in PAS is the existence of comprehensive party organs like the ulama, women and youth wings that look into the concerns of party members and the party’s grassroots supporters.
"The party organs can make sure that the old members will not leave us. The DAP at the time, had no such machinery," he added.
On the other hand, Khalil believes that PAS can turn the so-called threat facing party into an opportunity by leverage on the close cooperation it had forged with its Pakatan allies and new non-Muslim friends to gain Malay support.
He cited the example of Perak, where Pakatan fielded DAP leaders at the ground in the villages to explain to them why they support PAS.
"If the DAP can support PAS, why can't the Malays?" he asked.
However Khalil admitted, the Islamic party's machinery can be problematic when it comes to infiltrating Malay-majority areas regarded as strongholds of Umno.
Some quartes within the party machinery may not be doing enough to reach out to the target groups, he added.
"Some members think that it is too early (too reach out to such areas), while other think that it is not necessary," he added.
'We are not a threat'
Meanwhile, newly-minted PAS supporters wing chief Hu Pang Chow denied that the new wing posed a risk to current members. The wing, he said does not have such ambitions, nor can it do anything even if it wanted to.
“PAS has around one million members. The supporters’ wing is made up of only 20,000 members. It is impossible for the wing to get even close to a million members," he said.
Hu also said that even if Umno with all its power and money had failed to destroy PAS, what can the fledgling wing of people sympathetic to the party do?
Hu brushed the suggestion, however, that the wing field candidates in the coming elections given the green light it was shown to contest under the PAS banner.
“To contest or not to contest is not the issue. The important thing is to make sure Pakatan and PAS win big so that we can take over Putrajaya," added Hu.
The supporters’ wing is an asset to the Islamic party in winning over Malay and non-Malay votes, and demonstrates PAS’ inclusiveness, said Hu.
It also shows PAS is living up to Islam’s demands for fairness and harmony, and eroding thereby the extremist image that its enemies portrayed of the party.
This he said will not only attract non-Malays, but also Malays who once had reservations about PAS.
The reality is, Hu added, neither Pakatan nor BN can win with the support of only one race.
They must have the support and cooperation of all the races, something which he said PAS is well on the way of achieving.
"PAS must make this clear and explain this to the people," he concluded.
This follows concerns from various quarters that the party risks sidelining its original bulwark as it looks towards non-Malay/non-Muslim support. The issue had been raised earlier by several delegates in the Islamic party's 56th PAS muktamar (general assembly) at the Islamic Tarbiyah Centre, Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan.
Some even said that DAP's surprise exit from the Barisan Alternatif - the current opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat’s predecessor - in 2001 when it found itself losing Chinese support would find a comparable development occurring to PAS as well.
Approached by Malaysiakini on the sidelines of the muktamar, Titi Serong state representative Khalil Idham Lim (left) said what had happened to DAP then would not befall the Islamic party because of two elements in PAS that the DAP never had.The first, said the assemblyperson, is principle of tahalluf siyasi (political cooperation) according to which the party must stay true to its Islamic principles in tandem with its cooperation with non-Muslims.
This, he said further, should calm fears that the party may get sidetracked after wooing non-Muslim and non-Malay support.
The second element in PAS is the existence of comprehensive party organs like the ulama, women and youth wings that look into the concerns of party members and the party’s grassroots supporters.
"The party organs can make sure that the old members will not leave us. The DAP at the time, had no such machinery," he added.
On the other hand, Khalil believes that PAS can turn the so-called threat facing party into an opportunity by leverage on the close cooperation it had forged with its Pakatan allies and new non-Muslim friends to gain Malay support.
He cited the example of Perak, where Pakatan fielded DAP leaders at the ground in the villages to explain to them why they support PAS.
"If the DAP can support PAS, why can't the Malays?" he asked.
However Khalil admitted, the Islamic party's machinery can be problematic when it comes to infiltrating Malay-majority areas regarded as strongholds of Umno.
Some quartes within the party machinery may not be doing enough to reach out to the target groups, he added.
"Some members think that it is too early (too reach out to such areas), while other think that it is not necessary," he added.
'We are not a threat'
Meanwhile, newly-minted PAS supporters wing chief Hu Pang Chow denied that the new wing posed a risk to current members. The wing, he said does not have such ambitions, nor can it do anything even if it wanted to.
“PAS has around one million members. The supporters’ wing is made up of only 20,000 members. It is impossible for the wing to get even close to a million members," he said.Hu also said that even if Umno with all its power and money had failed to destroy PAS, what can the fledgling wing of people sympathetic to the party do?
Hu brushed the suggestion, however, that the wing field candidates in the coming elections given the green light it was shown to contest under the PAS banner.
“To contest or not to contest is not the issue. The important thing is to make sure Pakatan and PAS win big so that we can take over Putrajaya," added Hu.
The supporters’ wing is an asset to the Islamic party in winning over Malay and non-Malay votes, and demonstrates PAS’ inclusiveness, said Hu.
It also shows PAS is living up to Islam’s demands for fairness and harmony, and eroding thereby the extremist image that its enemies portrayed of the party.
This he said will not only attract non-Malays, but also Malays who once had reservations about PAS.
The reality is, Hu added, neither Pakatan nor BN can win with the support of only one race.
They must have the support and cooperation of all the races, something which he said PAS is well on the way of achieving.
"PAS must make this clear and explain this to the people," he concluded.
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