Delegate wants RM10m for multiculturalism think-tank
Aidila RazakPublished: Jun 4, 2011 10:37 AM | Updated: Jun 4, 2011 11:05 AM
The general election and PAS’ bid to have a wider reach were top on the agenda for today’s delegates debate at the party’s annual assembly, the muktamar.
The general election and PAS’ bid to have a wider reach were top on the agenda for today’s delegates debate at the party’s annual assembly, the muktamar.
Speaking for the PAS Supporters’ Council, the leader of the non-Muslim wing, Hu Pang Chaw (left), urged the party to set up a RM10 million fund to set up a think-tank on multiculturalism.
According to Hu, this is important to remain relevant in the present political climate.
“This fund is important to attract the best brains to contribute to the party... a car without petrol cannot move. If (the new leadership) can’t raise the amount, then we should pick someone else,” he said to laughter from the delegates.
Winning himself more applause, Hu, who lauded PAS for practicing “true Islam”, also offered himself to take on Umno in a debate on who is the actual Malay champion.
Earlier, Johor delegate Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil urged the leadership to consider fielding a candidate from the supporters’ council in each state in the next general election.
“Our hope is for them to eventually be able to vote in the party election, but before that they can still represent us in the general election,” he said.
Khairul also chided the central leadership for seemingly sidelining the supporters’ council, asking them the number of times Hu was called to represent the council in central leadership meetings.
“We are proud of having this council, but how many of us actually spoke to the delegates from there who are present today?” he asked.
Terengganu delegate M Sukriman Samsuddin, meanwhile said that Terengganu’s 32 assembly and eight parliament seats must be allocated according to Pakatan Rakyat parties’ relative strengths.
He said that PKR’s popular vote in Terengganu was lower than that of PAS, while seats lost were due to a swing among fence-sitters.
“(The problem is) the candidates who were abandoned by the fence-sitters are not from PAS,” he said, and suggested that PAS should take over the seats which PKR lost in Terengganu.
‘We’re not naughty boys’
Proving that life is tough even when you are in government, Selangor PAS candidate Iskandar Abdul Samad lamented that the state PAS has been somewhat abandoned by the central leadership.
“Selangor is different from Kelantan and Kedah. PAS did not win so many seats as in those states, we have only eight... and Malay Muslims are minorities, so our approach is different (and) sometimes there are differences in opinions in our coalition.
“(But) we need support and understanding from the central leadership. Assume the best of us... Don’t treat us like ‘naughty boys’,” he said
Speaking for the PAS Supporters’ Council, the leader of the non-Muslim wing, Hu Pang Chaw (left), urged the party to set up a RM10 million fund to set up a think-tank on multiculturalism. According to Hu, this is important to remain relevant in the present political climate.
“This fund is important to attract the best brains to contribute to the party... a car without petrol cannot move. If (the new leadership) can’t raise the amount, then we should pick someone else,” he said to laughter from the delegates.
Winning himself more applause, Hu, who lauded PAS for practicing “true Islam”, also offered himself to take on Umno in a debate on who is the actual Malay champion.
Earlier, Johor delegate Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil urged the leadership to consider fielding a candidate from the supporters’ council in each state in the next general election.
“Our hope is for them to eventually be able to vote in the party election, but before that they can still represent us in the general election,” he said.
Khairul also chided the central leadership for seemingly sidelining the supporters’ council, asking them the number of times Hu was called to represent the council in central leadership meetings. “We are proud of having this council, but how many of us actually spoke to the delegates from there who are present today?” he asked.
Terengganu delegate M Sukriman Samsuddin, meanwhile said that Terengganu’s 32 assembly and eight parliament seats must be allocated according to Pakatan Rakyat parties’ relative strengths.
He said that PKR’s popular vote in Terengganu was lower than that of PAS, while seats lost were due to a swing among fence-sitters.
“(The problem is) the candidates who were abandoned by the fence-sitters are not from PAS,” he said, and suggested that PAS should take over the seats which PKR lost in Terengganu.
‘We’re not naughty boys’
Proving that life is tough even when you are in government, Selangor PAS candidate Iskandar Abdul Samad lamented that the state PAS has been somewhat abandoned by the central leadership.
“Selangor is different from Kelantan and Kedah. PAS did not win so many seats as in those states, we have only eight... and Malay Muslims are minorities, so our approach is different (and) sometimes there are differences in opinions in our coalition.
“(But) we need support and understanding from the central leadership. Assume the best of us... Don’t treat us like ‘naughty boys’,” he said
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