PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party must provide clarity on the meaning of the word “kafir”, which has been distorted to the point non-Muslims misunderstand and find it insulting.

Tuan Ibrahim said PAS’ political enemies had used “kafir” to show it is insulting to non-Muslims.

“It is not meant to be insulting. There are a few types of ‘kafir’ – those who are hostile to Muslims, those who have no problems living among Muslims and those who have made a pact with Muslims to keep peace.

“As long as they do not go against those pacts, we too should keep to the promise. It is our duty to protect them at all costs from those attacking them,” The Star reported him as saying. 

Yesterday, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and his party must first stop labelling non-Muslims as “kafir” in order to win them over.

The DAP lawmaker said PAS regularly uses the “kafir” term against non-Muslims in the country, which gives a negative perception of the group.

“Hadi and PAS need to agree that this term only brings negative effects and disrupts the harmony of the multicultural society in Malaysia,” Lim said in a statement.

Tuan Ibrahim said there are some in DAP who are hostile but they would not be regarded as enemies who need to be attacked, “unless they attack us first”.

He also said Perikatan Nasional has three wings where there are non-Muslims.

“PAS will go all out to ensure the confusion and fear are addressed, as this has clouded support for the party among the non-Malays and non-Muslims.

“Our enemies have played up green-wave phobia after the last general election, with fake ideas such as non-Muslims would not be allowed to practise their religions when PAS rules.”

He said PAS will show non-Muslims what the party has done for them and how they live in states helmed by the party.

“For example, in Kedah, there are non-Muslims appointed to state positions as Kedah has more non-Muslims than the east coast states.

“We would also find out the problems being faced by non-Muslims especially in terms of cost of living,” Tuan Ibrahim added. – October 21, 2023.