PAS to appoint non-Muslim senators
(Free Malaysia Today) – Powered by its acceptance in Sibu, Pakatan Rakyat coalition partner PAS is now planning to appoint non-Muslims as senators and as candidates in the 13th general election.
Speaking to the PAS supporters wing in Klang today, president Abdul Hadi Awang said the largest Islamic movement was looking into appointing non-Muslims to state-held senate seats.
“PAS is happy to appoint non-Muslims to the senate to represent Malaysia’s multi-racial society. We also looking at non-Muslim candidates for the 13th general election.
“In fact this is already being discussed at the party’s leadership level,” he said.
On May 16, the Pakatan coalition swept to victory in a nail-biting finish for the Sibu parliamentary seat.
The win has been attributed in part to PAS willingness to discuss the contentious ‘Allah” issue with Sibu’s predominant Christian community.
Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and Kota Raja MP Siti Maria Mahmud had held open discussions with church groups on PAS stand.
At the height of the arson attacks on churches in January 2010 following a high court ruling allowing Christians to use the term “Allah’ in prayer, PAS and its coalition partners had remained firm in support of freedom to practice ones faith.
