HAVING lost the non-Malay vote when it broke up with the opposition, PAS is confident that victory lies in the way of younger voters.

The confidence is not unfounded as a survey conducted in Johor last year showed that Malays were becoming more conservative in their views.

The survey findings released on November 10 said more Malays preferred their leaders to be Muslim and supported hudud.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has promised to have only Muslims fill decision-making roles in a PAS cabinet.

“We need to rally and get younger voters to join us if we want to win Perak,” said Perak state commissioner Razman Zakaria at the “Himpunan Perak Istiqamah Himmah 12k”, or “steadfastness” rally.

He made the comments during the afternoon’s Conversations with Youth programme for kindergarten and primary school teachers.

In the evening, Razman urged the grassroots to use social media to reach young voters.

“To reach these voters, use Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and you will be an army that can defeat all the attacks against PAS,” said Razman.

Teluk Intan branch treasurer Azlan Hussin confidently predicted that PAS will do even better this year in the general election to come.

In 2013, PAS contested 22 out of in the 59 seats in the Perak assembly and won five – Titi Serong, Gunong Semanggol, Selinsing, Changkat Jering and Sg Rapat. One of the five, former Perak menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin has since left PAS to join splinter party Amanah.

 “PAS will do better as there will be a Malay tsunami for the party because young voters don’t like Prime Minister Najib Razak and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” said the 50-year-old civil servant and PAS member of 20 years.. 

“It is these young voters who are behind the #UndiRosak campaign and we hope to bank on them.

“PAS will attract those who want a more Islamic way of life”

Only PAS will do

Three young PAS members echoed his sentiments. 

“Compared to other parties, only PAS fights for Islam wholeheartedly,” said Yasser Abdul Ghani from Pasir Salak.

The 30-year-old mechanic said unlike the other parties, PAS is more transparent.

“I believe that PAS can attract younger voters like me who want a more Islamic government,” said Yasser, whose father is also a PAS member.

“If I were asked to pick again today, I will still choose PAS as my party.”

His friend Megat Sufi Megat Nordin said PAS is attractive to those who want a more Islamic way of life.

“It really depends on a person’s lifestyle. If he is the sort who likes to drink alcohol or gamble he won’t join PAS. But if he is more religious, he would pick this party,” said the 40-year-old. 

“PAS will appeal to those who live in areas where there’s less night life or entertainment,” said the former Umno member who joined the Islamist party in 1998, after Anwar Ibrahim was accused of sodomy.
 
For Megat Sufi, none of the other four Malay-majority parties – Umno, Amanah, Bersatu and PKR – were good options.

“Unlike the others there are no corruption issues in PAS-governed states like Kedah and Kelantan. There are issues with the Selangor and Penang leaders but not PAS. Our leaders are clean.”

Nasrul Adil, who is a traffic marshall volunteer at the event, said PAS is more appealing to young voters now because it has adopted a “peaceful and mature” approach to politics.

The 21-year-old tahfiz teacher, who joined PAS when he was 18, said young people like him will also pick the party because they believe in the Islamic cause.

“If PAS did not exist, I would not join or vote for any other party.” – February 4, 2018.