OPINION | “Don't Blame Us For Lack Of Non-Malay Support?!!” Says PAS Leader: Then Blame Who...?!!!
15 Jan 2026 • 2:00 PM MYT
JK Joseph
Repentant ex-banker who believes in truth, compassion and some humour
Credit Image: Malay Mail (Bernama pic) / Straits Times (PHOTO: MAJLIS PERBANDARAN KOTA BHARU BANDAR RAYA ISLAM/FACEBOOK) / Focus Malaysia.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has rejected claims that the party is driving non-Malay voters away from Perikatan Nasional (PN), saying such perceptions are inaccurate and not backed by the coalition’s election track record.
He was responding to media reports that quoted Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan as claiming that there were concerns among members and leaders of Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) should PAS take over the leadership of the opposition coalition.
Mere denial or suppression of truth?
Tuan Ibrahim further stressed that views portraying PAS as the reason non-Malays feel fearful and do not support PN were not true, pointing to PN’s results in several elections as evidence of continued cross-racial backing.
However, the well-respected PAS leader’s comments are bound to raise some critical questions.
Hasn't PAS made it clear that its “ultimate goal” is the establishment of a theocratic Islamic State based on Sharia law – leading some to fear that it could be designed to replicate the Iranian model? Isn't this one of the fundamental reasons why many non-Muslims shun the Islamist party?
In that context, inevitably, non-Muslims in this country would be prompted to ask: under PAS rule, will the Federal Constitution still remain as the supreme law of this country? After all, hasn't it been pushing for Sharia courts to have equal or superior standing to Civil courts?
In the event of a constitutional crisis in the country pitting civil law against sharia law, won't non-Malays be left in limbo?
The truth is, shades of how the Islamist party might one day rule the country are already evident in the four PAS-governed states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis – their overtly religious conservatism triggering alarm bells among the non-Malays in other states.
But is the party's long-term vision consistent with governing a multiethnic and multi-religious state?
Rigid rules over alcohol sales and the banning of gaming outlets in those states have also been perceived as an infringement on the constitutional rights and lifestyles of non-Muslims – directly challenging the sensitive cultural norms of certain minority groups.
Additionally, there have been allegations of restrictions on public performances and concerts: what about incidents involving fines for non-Muslims wearing shorts in Kelantan?
Even sports isn't spared either after Terengganu’s female gymnasts were barred from competitions – sparking unwanted international headlines!
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has rejected claims that the party is driving non-Malay voters away from Perikatan Nasional (PN), saying such perceptions are inaccurate and not backed by the coalition’s election track record.
He was responding to media reports that quoted Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan as claiming that there were concerns among members and leaders of Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) should PAS take over the leadership of the opposition coalition.
Mere denial or suppression of truth?
Tuan Ibrahim further stressed that views portraying PAS as the reason non-Malays feel fearful and do not support PN were not true, pointing to PN’s results in several elections as evidence of continued cross-racial backing.
However, the well-respected PAS leader’s comments are bound to raise some critical questions.
Hasn't PAS made it clear that its “ultimate goal” is the establishment of a theocratic Islamic State based on Sharia law – leading some to fear that it could be designed to replicate the Iranian model? Isn't this one of the fundamental reasons why many non-Muslims shun the Islamist party?
In that context, inevitably, non-Muslims in this country would be prompted to ask: under PAS rule, will the Federal Constitution still remain as the supreme law of this country? After all, hasn't it been pushing for Sharia courts to have equal or superior standing to Civil courts?
In the event of a constitutional crisis in the country pitting civil law against sharia law, won't non-Malays be left in limbo?
The truth is, shades of how the Islamist party might one day rule the country are already evident in the four PAS-governed states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis – their overtly religious conservatism triggering alarm bells among the non-Malays in other states.
But is the party's long-term vision consistent with governing a multiethnic and multi-religious state?
Rigid rules over alcohol sales and the banning of gaming outlets in those states have also been perceived as an infringement on the constitutional rights and lifestyles of non-Muslims – directly challenging the sensitive cultural norms of certain minority groups.
Additionally, there have been allegations of restrictions on public performances and concerts: what about incidents involving fines for non-Muslims wearing shorts in Kelantan?
Even sports isn't spared either after Terengganu’s female gymnasts were barred from competitions – sparking unwanted international headlines!
(Source: News headline from CNA dated 9 November 2019)
With dress code already a sensitive topic in the country, isn't “moral policing” one of those things non-Malays detest most – as many perceive it as a form of hypocrisy?
Furthermore, the use of terms like kafir (infidels) is also viewed by non-Malays as derogatory; likewise, the Islamist party's past insinuations – that only Muslims should hold important government positions – has fueled significant unease among the non-Malay population!
Wouldn't some critics accuse PAS of using religion as a cover to promote the “ketuanan” (supremacy) complex?
In fact, back in 2022, didn't PAS president Hadi Awang ignite a public uproar after claiming that non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras were the main drivers of corruption in this country? Wouldn't that have understandably offended the non-Muslims here – and further contributed to the “PAS-phobia” among the latter?
Meanwhile, two areas of great concern to the non-Malays here are education and business; in this context, could detractors be faulted for fearing that the country's education system under the Islamist party might one day prioritize religious indoctrination over excelling in a competitive world – jeopardizing their children's future in the process?
Moreover, judging by the way the party has managed Kelantan for decades, would commerce and tourism activities take a backseat? Would restrictive policies such as mandatory shutdown of businesses during prayer times be gradually enforced nationwide?
In short, wouldn't such a scenario drive investors, entrepreneurs and professionals to eventually quit the country? As it is, haven't a steady stream of highly skilled non-Muslims, and even some talented Muslims, already emigrated to countries such as Singapore, Australia, UK, and even the United States – subtly undermining the country's long-term economic health?
Finally, would clergy rule signal the death of “multiculturalism” – the end of “Malaysia Truly Asia” as the world has fondly come to know it?
In conclusion, it is almost certain non-Malays in this country will not trade their religious and cultural freedom for anything and will doggedly defend them – even if their numbers may be declining. Surely the shrewd PAS leadership, Tuan Ibrahim included, know this well. Given this reality, can non-Malays be blamed if they choose to express such sentiments through the ballot box?
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