KUALA TERENGGANU: PAS should not be disheartened by election candidates who did so badly in the 14th General Election that they lost deposits, says its spiritual leader.
PAS “Mursyidul Am” Datuk Hashim Jasin (pic) said the party’s decision to contest in a whopping 158 parliamentary seats, of which many were considered “unwinnable”, was akin to planting seeds.
“When you plant durian seeds, you will not be able to enjoy the fruit on the same day.
“It will only be years later till you get to enjoy the fruits.
“If we lost in a seat, we must continue working hard in the constituency. God willing, one day, we will attain victory in those seats,” said Hashim, in his winding-up speech at the PAS 64th Muktamar on Sunday (Sept 16).
In GE14, PAS contested as a "third force" under the Gagasan Sejahtera banner, going against Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan.
PAS considers the 18 parliamentary and 90 state seats it won in the election as a success, although it suffered badly in seats which it lost.
To contest in the elections, candidates must first deposit RM10,000 for a parliamentary seat and RM5,000 for a state seat. They will lose their deposit if they fail to get at least one-eighth or 12.5% of the total number of votes cast.
The Islamist party retained Kelantan while winning control of Terengganu.
“I was told that in Sabah and Sarawak, we lost our deposits in all seats.
"During nomination day, only a small group of 50 people accompanied the candidates. We knew then that we would lose,” said Hashim.
PAS contested in eight parliamentary and 18 state seats in Sabah, and five parliamentary seats in Sarawak in GE14.
He told the audience a tale of his younger days when he campaigned with three other people in a village deep in Pahang.
“No one came out, only the trees and frogs listened to our ceramah. But we went on.
“Today, that same village is a PAS stronghold. We must never give up in our dakwah (preaching),” said Hashim.
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