PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s suggestion to form two separate cabinets for Muslims and non-Muslims would hinder unity in Malaysia, analysts said.

Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said Hadi’s proposal was not only unrealistic, but it also made it harder for PAS to attract voters in the 14th general election.

“It is not appropriate and suitable to be implemented in our pluralistic society.

“It can also only happen if PAS manages to rule, but if PAS does not form its own government, it is not possible,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Hadi earlier today said different races would play different roles in a federal government led by PAS.

Departing from his earlier stance last month where he called for the government to be led by Malay-Muslims only, the PAS president today said there would be two cabinets should the Islamist party come into power.

The second group would be the technocrats who carry out government policies, Hadi said.

Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research founder Ibrahim Suffian said Hadi should first implement this idea in PAS-ruled Kelantan.

“The proposal on two cabinets is a very brave thing to do especially when the public doesn’t understand or takes it seriously.

“It shows that PAS also imagines that it will be in power in the future,” the pollster said.

“It would be interesting if this idea was realised in the state that is under PAS before being brought to the federal level,” Ibrahim added.

However, he said that the people were not ready for this sort of game-changing suggestion.

Universiti Utara Malaysia’s (UUM) Azizuddin Mohd Sani meanwhile said Hadi’s suggestion was only practical in Brunei, where they introduced the shariah law a couple of years ago.

“This is a weird system, it is unclear what Hadi is trying to accomplish. Non-Malays’ being part of the cabinet is norm.

“Hadi needs to realise that in the federal constitution, we cannot implement the Malay and Islamic spirit just like that,” he said.

Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) Ismail Sualman said Hadi’s idea goes against unity in the country.

“Maybe Hadi wants to strengthen the position of Islam but the system is unrealistic to be implemented in Malaysia,” Ismail stressed. – February 4, 2018.