Pas Eyes Support Of Critical Non Malays Disgruntled With Govt

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 Party vice-president Amar Abdullah says PAS must find more convincing ways to woo non-Malay voters, while preserving its ‘clean’ image.
PAS vice-president Amar Abdullah said that although some PH supporters may have become disappointed, they still disliked PAS over its perceived hardline Malay-Muslim stance. (Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: Non-Malay voters disgruntled with the Pakatan Harapan-led government are the target of PAS, the largest opposition party in the Dewan Rakyat, as it prepares for the next general election
PAS vice-president Amar Abdullah acknowledged that Malay-Muslim parties have struggled to gain the support of non-Malays.
However, it was apparent that voters who make up PH’s core support have become increasingly critical of the government led by PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim, Amar said in an interview with Malaysiakini.
“The question now is how PAS can attract them to our side,” Amar was quoted as saying. The challenge was to find more convincing ways to win over the non-Malays ahead of the general election, which is due by February 2028.
While some PH supporters may have become disappointed with the coalition’s inability to execute various reforms it had promised, he admitted that they still disliked PAS due to its perceived hardline Malay-Muslim stance.
“This is what we’re currently thinking about: how to win their support,” he said, adding that the Islamic party must preserve its clean image to retain young voters.
Amar also took a swipe at its Perikatan Nasional partner Gerakan for making statements that have “harmed and undermined” PAS. He urged Gerakan, the only multiracial party in the opposition coalition, to exercise control in making public statements, adding that PAS keeps an eye on such matters.
“I have to be honest here, because occasionally their remarks have backfired. They need to be careful and exercise control, because we’re part of the same coalition. There must be give and take,” he said.
Gerakan has “much to improve” in attracting Chinese voters, who have been largely supporting DAP, and Gerakan’s machinery and groundwork needed improvement, while the party’s image itself needed to be rebuilt, he said.
In November last year, Gerakan president Dominic Lau urged PAS to declare that it will not interfere with the rights of other communities, in order to ease the concerns of non-Malays and boost their support for PN.
However, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man shot down the proposal, saying Gerakan should not blame the Islamic party for its failure to muster support from the Chinese community. - FMT

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