Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Forget Chan Kok Choy, one eye Yusuf, Taib Tyson, Ramli Talib, etc. not around for next season. PAS today introduced Kumutha Rahman, member of one-month old Unity Bureau of PAS supporters club member as candidate for Tiram state seat, a seat that has about 14% indian candidates. She’s a 29 year old lawyer, who is standing under PKR’s name. Its quite clear that this is a political gimmick. If PAS really sincere, she should be standing under the moon symbol, not the sea blue hands.
ELECTION 2008: Pas breaks own taboo to field first non-Muslim candidate
By : Syed Umar Ariff
source
JOHOR BARU, Thurs:
KUMUTHA Rahman looked nervous as pressmen, armed with notebooks and recorders, jostled through the crowd for an interview with her. The 29-year-old law graduate, who had just been named as the first non-Muslim candidate to be fielded by Pas, listened attentively to the questions hurled at her when Johor Pas announced their candidates at their headquarters in Batu Pahat.
She is contesting the Tiram state seat. But knowing the realities perhaps, Pas is fielding her under the Parti Keadilan Rakyat symbol based on the electoral pact the two parties have entered into.
Still, is she in for a culture shock? Will she be able to speak the language of Pas where Arabic phrases and Quranic verses matter most? Will she have to physically cover herself more than ever? “I know I won’t feel alienated because I believe voters nowadays are open-minded,” she said. “I also know that Muslims and non-Muslims will be able to accept me.” A member of the one-month old Unity Bureau under the Johor non-Muslim Pas Supporters Club, Kumutha may be oblivious to the fact that she had broken the conservative Islamic party’s 61-year-old tradition of only fielding Muslims as candidates. “I joined the club because I see that Pas is not bent on racialism. To me all races be they Malays, Chinese or Indians are all the same.”
Making the announcement was Johor Pas commissioner Datuk Mahfodz Mohamed, returning to contest for the Bukit Serampang state seat, said the move signified Pas’ tolerance towards other races. “We want everyone to know that Pas is not only restricted to Muslims. Even non-Muslims are welcomed in Pas,” he said. “That is why we have the Pas Supporters Club. Kumutha’s candidacy is a proof of that ideal.” Pas will contest 34 state seats and nine parliamentary seats. The party had lost in all 37 state seats and 11 parliamentary constituencies it contested in the last general election. This time around, fresh faces made-up one-third of the candidates and none of the Pas Women’s wing leaders.
Kumutha is contesting the Tiram state seat but would bear Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s flag. Ostensibly, the Johor Baru lass candidacy is to woo support for the Islamist party from non-Muslim voters in Tiram, especially the Indian vote which comprises 14.39 per cent of that area’s voters. However, even during the announcement there were murmurs of uncertainty heard amidst the applause following Kumutha’s nomination.
The Tiram constituency is a Barisan Nasional stronghold. In the 2004 election, BN’s Maulizan Bujang beat Pas’ Roslani Sharif, by a margin of 15,595 votes and the coalition us expected to repeat the feat.
It maybe that she is standing under keadilan banner.
Its a shock not only to moslems but to Indians as well.
at least pas took stock of the situation and are coming down towards indians.
In fact , nobody knew about a non-moslem unit of pas!!
its an excellent strategy, knowing that this current situation,
people would vote for anything But BN- including PAS.
good choise of Candidate.
Indian & Hindu at that, but also a women!!
from a party that has been accused of disciminating women!
shielding her from the green moon could be due to the abrupt shock by Malay voters who would have labeled Pas as anti-islam.
can you see the trend in PAS trying to reach out by not offering the Islamic state manifesto and also supporting peaceful assembly.
Indians are leaning forward. anything will do except BN.