THERE are two things PAS can do to attract non-Malays to support it in the next general election – join Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government and drop its far right approach, political observers said.

They said this in response to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s call for his party to make strides to win the votes of the non-Malays and non-Muslims in its quest to seize federal power in the next general election.

The PAS president, speaking at the party muktamar yesterday, had said it was crucial for the party to overcome this weakness if it wants to taste power.

Dr Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said an easy way out for PAS to gain the support of non Malays is by accepting Anwar’s offer to join the unity government.

He said if PAS can’t accept that olive branch, the party could sign a confidence and supply agreement (CSA) to back the unity government.

“If they want the support of non-Malays, they should accept Anwar’s offer. That is the only way I see for PAS to get backing from non-Malays and non-Muslims.

“Even Lim Kit Siang said something about PAS joining the government. PAS cannot rely on Gerakan because they don’t have the support (of the non-Malays). DAP has it.

“If they can’t join, they can at least have a CSA or a memorandum of understanding to state their support for Anwar. By this, the non-Malays will see PAS as a moderate party, not being too strict or conservative or far right,” he said.

Mazlan backed his argument by stating that PAS only needs 7-8% of non-Malay votes to strengthen its position in the country.

“PAS doesn’t need to get much as it is not going to contest in many urban seats. They just need the support in Malay seats with significant non-Malay voters. Eight per cent is already enough,” he added.

In an interview with the Time magazine recently, Anwar said his administration was still willing to conduct talks with PAS, but will draw a line when it comes to religious zealotry.

Anwar spoke of the rise of conservative rhetoric among Malaysians that stemmed from the current political environment and PAS’ increasingly hardline stance.

However, Anwar told the international magazine that he has yet to receive a clear rejection or positive response from PAS.

In the 2022 general election, PAS and its allies in Perikatan Nasional captured 73 parliamentary seats while Pakatan Harapan (PH) secured 82 seats.

PH went on to form a unity government with Barisan Nasional, which had won 30 seats, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (23) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (6).

Be more centrist

Dr Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia meanwhile said PAS has to adopt a more centrist approach.

Fauzi said changes are possible in PAS in the next 10 years if its young leaders agreed to anticipate and adapt to the changes.

“It is no use recalling the past, when PAS was backed by non-Malays. Many observers have warned PAS that they will lose non-Muslim support if it adopts a far-right approach. PAS had been warned.

“Now they need to take a more centrist approach, maybe a centre-right approach, if centre is too much for the Islamist party. PAS has a clean image, unlike Umno and Bersatu, which are tainted with court cases.

“If they can convince the people across religions that they can be trusted, the party will be a potent threat to other Malay-based parties,” he said.

The academic also said PAS should look at Anwar’s offer even if its top leaders are against it.

“Hadi won’t be there forever. These young leaders in PAS who are in their 40s have to consider a closer relationship with PKR. PAS has to open its door again to all.

“In 10 years’ time I think it is possible. Not in the near future. Not in Hadi or Anwar’s time,” he said.

Outgoing PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari also told his party it must have non-Muslim votes if it is to win federal power.

The Pasir Mas MP said it was his biggest regret that PAS Youth has failed in winning over the non-Malay and non-Muslim bloc of voters.

“I am not sad to leave this post for I am confident the leaders who will come after me will be better than I. My only regret is that PAS Youth has yet to make major inroads among the non-Muslim and non-Malay voters.

“We need to capture their votes and support before the next general election. Non-Muslims and non-Malays have a good perception of those of us in PAS. 

“This perception is what we have to exemplify as PAS members if we are to get their votes,” The Star reported him as saying.

PAS needs DAP 

Meanwhile, Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said PAS had wasted its chance to be in power when it decided to ditch Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in 2008.

He added that it would be hard for PAS to convince non-Muslims without DAP’s influence.

“They had their chance in the past with the ‘PAS for All’ slogan. PAS was on the right track but after leaving PR, PAS decided to be a far-right party and became ethnonationalist to win the Malays. This has alienated non-Malays.

“For me, without DAP, it will be tough for PAS. Gerakan has no strength. PAS needs DAP to win non-Malay votes,” he said. – October 21, 2023.