PAS meet: Woo non-Muslims if we want to be next govt, says Hadi

SHAH ALAM: PAS must be an Islamic party accepted by all regardless of religion and race, party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang told delegates to its 69th muktamar (general assembly) here on Friday (Oct 20).

In his opening speech, the Marang MP said the party’s election post-mortems showed it had not only failed to gain support among non-Muslims, but also in wooing Malays disinterested in politics.

“We had the highest number of (parliamentary) seats in our 71-year history as a party and became the party with the most seats when we worked with Perikatan Nasional in the last general election," he told about 5,000 delegates and observers at the IDCC Convention Centre.

“Our strengths include the support of young voters, effective use of social media, strong performance in state governance, a clean and corruption-free image, an increase in membership and branch networks, readiness of our election machinery, and the high quality of candidates offered.

“PAS, therefore, must counter the Islamophobic narrative that exploits the ‘Green Wave’ label to unjustly alarm non-Muslims and certain groups about our performance (in elections) and effectively (governing) several states.

“PAS is open to cooperation and understanding with moderate non-Muslims. It also allows them to study Islamic knowledge, read the Quran, and engage with its teachings under appropriate guidance and supervision.

"However, it’s important to note that interpreting the Quran should be done with the necessary knowledge and expertise, whether by Muslims or non-Muslims,” he added.

In his speech, he lambasted the Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional government for not adhering to the concept of federalism by not working with the Opposition on issues concerning the people.

“This is because they claim that they are a 'unity government' when they are problematic ones.

“The challenge of inflation and the increasing prices of essential goods, which weigh heavily on the people, remain unresolved due to a lack of prioritisation.

“Today, it is imperative that we accord the utmost priority to ensuring an adequate supply of rice for our nation.

"However, it is evident that this critical matter is not receiving the attention it deserves, with emphasis being placed on less crucial issues.

“Additionally, we grapple with economic misconduct that severely undermines the governance of our country. Corruption, leaks and extravagant spending are not receiving the necessary focus in terms of remedies and solutions.

“PAS should also strategically position more leaders who are willing to engage in debates on government policies and advocate for issues that resonate with the public.

"Effective utilisation of media is crucial for disseminating information to reach both the general public and cross-party audiences," he said.

Abdul Hadi pointed out that the “welfare state” concept practised by Perikatan and PAS is not only among people.

“Benevolence encompasses all aspects, including matters of faith and the relationship with God, as well as social dimensions like family and community life,” he said.

He also advised the party to constantly evaluate its performance at all levels so that it is always ready for elections.

“The... party’s various wings, departments and units must be constantly mobilised, instead of being seasonal, so that they are ready to be deployed at any time,” said Abdul Hadi, who stated that loyalty to leaders must only be shown to those with good values.

Abdul Hadi said PAS has always been consistent in its call for the unity of all Muslims.

“When Muslims are divided, our collective strength diminishes. If we remain disunited, the interests of Malay Muslims will be trampled upon day by day, and the privileges of Islam, as well as the rights of Malays and bumiputras, will be constantly questioned.

“It’s crucial to emphasise that our call for unification of the ummah does not infringe upon the rights of non-Malays and non-Muslims.

"We are committed to upholding religious freedom and ensuring justice, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” said Abdul Hadi.

He said the unity of Muslims espoused by PAS is also the reason this muktamar is held in solidarity with the people of Palestine.