Analysts Extremist Rhetoric Stands Between Pas And Non Muslim Support

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PAS’ ability to woo non-Muslim or non-Malay support for the 16th general election (GE16) will depend on how much the party tones down its extremist rhetoric, political analysts have said.
(MMO) – Should this approach go unchanged, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research (NASR) senior fellow Azmi Hassan said it will be hard for the Islamist party to attract any support from non-Muslims or non-Malays.
“It would be impossible because PAS has resorted to extreme rhetoric in presenting itself as the only party that can protect Malays and Islam, and by putting down other parties — this includes Umno. “For non-Malays and non-Muslims, in this context, they see PAS as a very extreme party, not only in terms of using Islam, but also the Malays as its main attraction.
“In fact, this will discourage non-Malays and non-Muslims from supporting PAS unless PAS cools down its extremist rhetoric, including its mockery of other parties, especially Amanah and Umno. It is going to be very difficult,” Azmi told Malay Mail when contacted.
In fact, Azmi said PAS is very aware of the fact that although it is in the enviable position of having the most MPs among all parties, at 42, they are still in the Opposition. “Meaning that, without the support of the non-Malays, it would be impossible for them to form a federal government.
“Yes, they can form a state government, but limited to only Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Perlis.
“For other states, it would be quite impossible. The by-elections in Johor and Pahang demonstrated that PAS needed non-Malay support, but the non-Malays felt that PAS’ campaign was too extreme. For example, in terms of ideology, principles or administrative style. I would say it was a turnoff for non-Malays and non-Muslims in this case,” he said.
That said, however, Azmi added that there is plenty of time before GE16 for PAS to court non-Malay or non-Muslim voters.
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