KUCHING: The opposition party, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), has set an ambitious goal of winning over non-Malay, non-Muslim voters in the next general election (16th General Election). However, analysts have highlighted the significant challenges that lie ahead.
According to experts quoted in a report by Channel News Asia (CNA), the biggest obstacle for the Islamic party is its “extreme” image among most non-Malay and non-Muslims in the country. This perception stems from the religious-based rules enforced by PAS in the states it governs.
To increase their chances of success with this new objective, PAS will need to adopt a more moderate tone. However, this approach risks diluting the party’s distinct brand of politics and religious focus that has previously garnered electoral success.
Political analyst Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir, a senior fellow with the National Professors Council, stated, “They face a significant challenge in winning the support of non-Malays, but appeasing them could potentially alienate the Malays.”
PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang emphasized the need to secure the backing of non-Malay and non-Muslim voters during the party’s annual congress. He acknowledged that in the recent General Election (GE-15), PAS successfully gained the support of Malay Muslim voters but recognised the weaknesses in attracting non-Muslims and the insufficient number of seats.
PAS’ annual congress takes place after the party’s historic successes, positioning it as the principal party for Malays in Malaysia, replacing the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). The party’s performance remained relatively stable from the 12th to the 14th general elections. However, in the 15th GE held in November last year, PAS achieved a remarkable increase of 140 per cent in its parliamentary seat count, securing 43 seats. This historic win made PAS the largest party in Malaysia’s parliament. Abdul Hadi described it as “a significant milestone” in PAS’s 71-year history, attributing their success to their collaboration within the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.
Growing concerns have emerged about a “green wave” sweeping across Malaysia, as the colour green is strongly associated with PAS due to their flag’s colour. The party demonstrated improved performance during local elections in six states in August, contesting 126 out of 245 seats and winning a total of 105. These victories significantly contributed to the PN coalition’s success in the state assemblies controlled by the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and Barisan Nasional (BN).
‘Extreme’ Image
While Malays make up the majority in Malaysia, comprising just under two-thirds of the population, analysts emphasise that coalitions seeking power also require the support of non-Malay voters to achieve their goals. However, PAS has faced rejection not only from non-Malays but also from the Bumiputera in Sabah and Sarawak, the majority of whom are Christians. The party lacks significant grassroots support in these states.
Dr Jeniri pointed out that PAS struggles to secure these votes because it is perceived as extreme. He highlighted that their focus on banning the sale of alcohol or regulating dress codes sends the wrong signals to non-Muslims.
In the states governed by PAS — Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis — gaming and lottery outlets have been banned. Additionally, the Terengganu state government faced criticism after reports emerged that it had banned women from participating in gymnastics events due to concerns over attire. These actions have contributed to PAS’ image suffering among non-Muslims.
A report by Malaysia’s Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) found that PAS and its president, Abdul Hadi, amplified racial rhetoric the most during the 15th GE. The study revealed that Abdul Hadi had stirred anti-Chinese sentiments through negative social media posts against the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and criticized their inclusion of Malay candidates as a “dangerous and slick move”.
Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya emphasised that PAS would find it challenging to expand its support base as long as it remains unfriendly to non-Muslims. He explained that the main issue with PAS is their use of religion and ethnicity to secure votes while showing prejudice towards others, making it difficult to win over non-Malay voters.
Abdul Hadi, during his speech, claimed that in states governed by PAS, the party consistently upholds religious freedom for followers of other faiths and protects places of worship while ensuring unhindered economic activities. However, he acknowledged that PAS’s success in governing the states is often viewed negatively due to its adherence to Islamic principles, and they need to counter the Islamophobic narrative that exploits the ‘green wave’ label to alarm non-Muslims.
The ruling coalition not necessarily worried
Analysts emphasised that during PAS’ coalition years with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the DAP within the Pakatan Rakyat alliance from 2008 to 2015, the party faced significant challenges in reaching a consensus on issues related to religion and governance. The differences between PAS and its coalition partners ultimately led to the dissolution of the alliance.
It is worth noting that the ruling coalition, which currently consists of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), PAS, and other parties under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, may not be overly concerned about PAS’s ambition to win over non-Malay, non-Muslim voters. The coalition’s primary focus is often on securing support from the Malay-Muslim majority, which remains a significant voting bloc in Malaysia.
