Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email It seems that the non-Muslim wing would not be on par with the other wings. In other words, second class citizens la. Still unverified, but I think its true.
The wing will be an upgrade of the PAS supporters club.
The decision was taken recently, but not yet implemented.
According to the STAR:
The formation of a non-Muslim wing is a serious indication that PAS wants to distance itself from the premise of “Malay and Muslim unity” and it is a victory for the moderates and technocrats in the Islamist party, said a senior PAS leader who declined to be named.
PAS supporters’ club president Hu Phang Chiau who confirmed the setting up of the non-Muslim wing, says it was a breakthrough for the club members whom he claimed number around 18,000 now.
“We have PAS supporters who are Chinese, Indians and from the various tribes of Sabah and Sarawak,” Hu said in an interview.
He said the confirmation was received in a meeting which he attended together with the club’s patron Parit Buntar MP Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa and several members of its central committee.
“We are now formulating the structure of the wing (Dewan) such as the office bearers’ postions and to synergise it with the other wings such as its Muslimat (Women), Youth and Ulama Dewans,” said Hu who declined to say if he would head the wing.
He added that the party needed to convene a constitutional amendment, expected at next year’s “muktamar” where the non-Muslim wing would be formalised.
He said the party had yet to touch on the prospects of the wing members contesting on PAS tickets in the next election.
“We will discuss it in due process. Now, it is about setting up the wing first and the admission of non-Muslim as members.”
It also remains to be seen if the non-Muslim would be granted direct membership or be regarded as associate-members only, he said.
Obviously, if many non-Muslims join PAS, it will encourage PAS.
UMNO will be seen as the sole protector of the Malay community (which is redundant nowadays because not many pure Malays around). Some PAS hardliners will jump ship to UMNO, while PAS will have to thread carefully in order to manage its non-Muslim members.
Wonder what MCA/MIC/Gerakan will say. Probably will highlight that PAS had created many controversies relating to non-Muslims, and its just pure foolishness to join PAS.
As for DAP and PKR, it may erode their membership, but will strengthen Pakatan as PAS will be seen as less Malay.
Now, the interesting question is, how will PAS manage its non-Muslims? This will be an interesting chapter in PAS’s history.
Now, if they can improve on that 18,000 members first. How many non-Muslims would join PAS?
As for me, I’ll stay away as far away as possible from PAS. No offense to its members, but I’m not into joining a religious political party.
