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Sunday, May 23, 2010

PAS mulls nominating non-Muslims as senators

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
May 23, 2010
PAS leaders launch the party’s Supporters’ Congress in Klang, May 23, 2010. — Picture by Jack Ooi

KLANG, May 23 — PAS is considering nominating non-Muslims as Senators in the Dewan Negara, and as candidates in the next general election.

At the launch of the PAS Supporters’ Congress (Dewan Himpunan PAS) here today, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub said that the party would have no qualms nominating non-Muslims to be appointed Senators or to contest for the next general election.

“PAS can even elect non-Muslims (in the congress) as Senators.

“We see a world today where (US President) Barack Obama is in the White House. The weather can change, people can change. I am confident of a big change for the future,” said Salahuddin.

The launching of the party’s non-Muslim wing here was a milestone for PAS in its efforts to burnish its multiracial credentials.

However, while PAS has indicated that it was considering fielding non-Muslims in the next general election and for Senatorial appointments, the underlying concern that members of the PAS supporters’ congress members were not full-fledged party members — by virtue of the party constitution — remained.

The PAS constitution stipulates that the only Muslims could be members of the party, so the formation of the congress as a separate wing was necessary to accomodate non-Muslim participation.

Meanwhile, to be a member of the congress, one needs to be non-Muslim, 18 years old and above, and accepts and supports the principles of the party’s struggles.

Hu Pang Chow, head of the supporters’ congress, claimed that PAS had achieved racial understanding and unity, something “BN could not have achieved for the past 52 years.”

“1 Malaysia is actually a copy of PAS... they have been there since 1951. We want to make Malaysia a haven for all races,” exclaimed Hu to a chorus of applause from the crowd.

Among leaders who attended the ceremony today were PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Md Isa, vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Hasan Ali, Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu, as well as controversial PKR MP S. Manikavasagam, who left abruptly halfway through the event.

PAS amiable to extra seats for non-Muslims

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

Hadi said PAS first introduced the extra spots for non-Muslims in 1999. — Picture by Jack Ooi

KLANG, May 23 — PAS is willing to allocate additional state seats for non-Muslims who do not get elected during elections.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said that PAS had successfully “amended state constitution laws” in Terengganu back in 1999, when PAS ruled the state, to enable non-Muslims who did not win any state seats during elections to be appointed as state assemblymen.

“In 1999 PAS made a proactive move in Terengganu. Back then, PAS had managed to amend state constitution laws to appoint non-Muslims as state assemblymen if they did not win in elections,” said Abdul Hadi.

The former Terengganu mentri besar told an audience at the launching of the PAS Supporters’ Congress (Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS) that non-Muslims were appointed to “represent the non-Muslim population”, since Terengganu was 90 per cent Muslim.

“This we will replicate [this] if we win other states, but until now Barisan Nasional does not dare do this,” claimed the PAS president.

Abdul Hadi said the allocation of state seats to non-Muslims in other PAS-ruled states was also being discussed by the party.

“It is in consideration,” said Abdul Hadi.

According to the PAS leader, the extra seats for non-Muslims depended on the seat “allocation in the state assembly.

“It’s a different process for different states. Kedah and Kelantan cannot do it yet because of different issues.

“Amendments to the state constitution have to go through the state legal advisors as well as the blessings and signature of the Sultan,” said Abdul Hadi.

PAS Deputy President Nasharuddin Md Isa claimed that Kelantan had already elected “non-Muslim village heads.”

The Islamist party has been on a mission to improve its appeal to non-Muslims, exemplified by the introduction of its supporters’ congress.

The congress has a leadership committee of its own, which consists of its head, a deputy leader, and five lower-ranked deputy leaders (a youth leader, a Wanita leader, as well as one leader from each of the major member races: Chinese, Indian, and Orang Asli).

The Islamist party has already said that it will consider letting members of the congress run under its ticker in the next general election, as well as nominating some to become PAS senators.

But the PAS president was mum on the exact percentage of seats that would be allocated for non-Muslims.

“We have to look at the necessity of the situation. We (also) have to look at Pakatan Rakyat (PR) seat allocations, because we do not want to cause any conflict with parties within PR. We want a straight fight with BN,” he said.

Abdul Hadi also told reporters that PAS would have negotiations with PKR and DAP before making any decisions.

“What needs to be negotiated is during the elections, each of us have (a certain) allocation for state seats.”

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

'Muslim economic forum in KL must state stance on Israel, Iran'

Harakahdaily

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4: PAS has called on the World Islamic Economic Forum to be held from May 18 to 20 to state its opposition to the US-led sanctions against Iran and to seriously address issues related to trade ties with the state of Israel.

PAS information chief Idris Ahmad said besides the Malaysian leaders' connections with the Zionist state such as their ties with consultancy firm Apco Worldwide and secret meetings between UMNO leaders and Israeli ministers, there were other Muslim countries who had been openly having trade and diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv such as Indonesia, Mauritania, Jordan and Turkey.

"This issue must be discussed by the heads of these governments who claim to symphatise with the Palestinian struggle yet they, the Malaysian government included, are in cohorts with the Zionist state," he said in a statement.

The forum, scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur, will be attended by leaders of Muslim majority nations. Among others, it is expected to address issues such as tourism, small and medium-scale industries, water management, education, technology and Islamic banking.

Idris said besides these issues, the Muslim leaders must not ignore the Palestinian plight and show their commitment by advocating pressure against Israel in the same way the Zionist state had been lobbying for economic sanctions against Iran.

PAS also urged Muslim countries to declare their stance on issues such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran.

"They must prove that they can unite to defend Iran against economic sanctions. This is the time to show the world that they are not America's lackeys," added Idris.

 

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