KUALA LUMPUR — PAS’ move to allow non-Muslims as associate members has drawn scorn from Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zakarshi, who said it showed the Islamic party’s desperation.
The Rengit assemblyman said it showed the failure of PAS’ Non-Muslims Supporters Congress (DHPP) and also the inability of PAS’ political allies, including the multiracial Gerakan, to boost its standing among other races.
“PAS is desperate and forced to become liberal. Will this attract non-Malays to support it?
“PAS seems to admit that its DHPP has failed to increase non-Malay support for PAS…PAS also doesn’t believe in Gerakan and Bersatu to help it pull Chinese support,” Puad said in a Facebook post.
He was commenting on party delegates’ unanimous vote to amend the PAS constitution to allow non- Muslims as associate members at its 70th annual assembly or muktamar yesterday.
The only condition for non-Muslims to join the party is that they must not be atheists.
Puad poked fun at this, suggesting PAS, which stands for Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, change its name to Parti Semua Agama (party of all religions) with ‘PSA’ as its acronym.
The Johor Umno politician also said that despite these efforts, PAS makes itself a laughing stock among other races when its members pose suggestions to marry non-Malay women so as to gain more votes.
This suggestion was made at the muktamar by Selangor PAS Youth secretary Aubidullah Fahim who said more support for the party could be gained if youth wing leaders married women of other races and cultures.
His suggestion was later dismissed by PAS Youth chief Adnan Hamimi Taib who said it was Aubidullah’s personal view. — September 15, 2024