ALOR SETAR: Support for PAS has expanded far beyond its membership base as it is now widely accepted by the rakyat, says a delegate to the party's 71st Muktamar here.
Its youth wing's Azamuddin Sahar said recent voting patterns show that support for the Islamist party has grown considerably.
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"Statistics from the last general election revealed that more than half of young voters cast their ballots in favour of Perikatan Nasional.
"Within PAS itself, only 40% of those who voted for the party were registered members, while the remaining 60% came from outside its ranks.
“In other words, out of every 10 people who supported us in GE15, only four were party members, while six were non-members,” he said when debating the party president's keynote address here on Monday (Sept 15).
Azamuddin said this underscores a critical shift for the party, which has transformed into a broader political movement.
He said PAS is no longer confined to its grassroots membership, and is now a party for the rakyat that commands the respect, trust and support of millions of Malaysians, regardless of affiliation.
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He stressed that old political approaches are no longer relevant in reaching the younger generation.
He said the battlefield of the youth is now on social media – TikTok, Instagram, podcasts, and even casual discussions at cafés.
"This is the true arena of politics for the current generation,” he said, adding that victory in the next general election must be won on the timeline of young voters.
“We must capture the hearts of the youth with a fresh and more aggressive narrative.
"Once we dominate the media, we can shape their minds.
"Generation Z must be engaged in ways that suit their era," he said.
