PAS to chart new course to win over non-Muslims
By Zainal Epi, Free Malaysia Today
PAS is expected to chart a new course that will see the party open its doors to non-Muslims as it gears itself up to face the challenges ahead.
It will propose guidelines on how the non-Muslims could contribute and strengthen the party base without compromising its Islamic principles.
This is one of the issues that will be highlighted when the party’s high command meets for a three-day assembly beginning this Friday.
PAS president Hadi Awang mooted the idea of setting up the Dewan Penyokong Bukan Islam (non-Muslims support wing) last month, with the aim of roping in the non-Muslims. This move, considered crucial for the next general election, is expected to take centre-stage at the assembly.
Numbers game
Delegates are expected to stress the importance of having such a wing to give the party a wider support base, given that Malay support has declined.
PAS leaders and members had admitted that despite the good showing in the 2008 general election, the party was said to have received only 35% of the Malay electorate.
Delegates are also expected to emphasise the point that DAP is the strongest party in Pakatan Rakyat, capturing about 65% of the Chinese votes.
Given such a background, delegates are expected to debate on how best the party could accommodate the non-Muslim supporters so that they could add up to the numbers game that could make the party a formidable force in Pakatan.
