What If PAS Rules?

The survival of an inclusive multi-racial Malaysia could be under threat if PAS were to rule. The Islamist party is confident that its time has arrived to take charge of the country’s destiny. To climb this peak, PAS will have to capture more political power in every general election, and it probably reckons it can only achieve this by getting more Malay votes. In PAS’ calculations, the other ethnic groups do not count.

PAS election director Sanusi Md Nor has got the party’s long march to Putrajaya all mapped out. This controversial Kedah menteri besar expects PAS to “attack” 80 parliamentary seats and is confident of capturing at least 40 in GE15. The party now has 17 MPs, of which three are ministers and eight deputy ministers. 

 

Source:https://www.bharian.com.my

PAS has already mapped out a 30-year plan to capture federal power. It foresees that by 2050, it will have enough MPs to form the next government, with its candidate as the prime minister.

The coming general election (GE15) will be a crucial test on whether PAS can make further inroads. If the party led by Hadi Awang can seize 40 seats, it would have a big say in the corridors of power. Hadi can drive his Islamic agenda to the forefront of national politics to reshape the landscape of this multi-racial nation. If PAS can continue to improve its electoral outings over the next 30 years, it will inch its way to a simple majority eventually and later, an overwhelming victory.

But PAS alone without UMNO or PN will fare badly. That’s the perception of a UKM political analyst. It (PAS) was in the PH camp for GE14.

The above scenario could only happen if the other Malay parties like UMNO and Berstu fall by the wayside. And the multi-racial parties like PKR, DAP and Amanah are unable to muster Malay votes.

PAS won’t find it easy to secure Malay support, let alone the non-Malay votes. Perhaps, the good news is PAS is performing poorly in the states it governs, its leaders have no clear direction and ministers are incompetent. But if a leader with the calibre of Tok Guru emerges, then the proposition may look possible. Otherwise, this will remain a pipe-dream! We cannot be complacent to this possibility. The consequences of which are seen in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya or other Islamic republics –all failed economies.

References:

If PAS rules, the lights of freedom will grow dim, Philip Rodrigues, Aliran, 7 Sept 2022

PAS growing unpopular even among Muslims, says analyst, Shahrul Shahabudin, FMT, 

12 September 2022