Malaysia’s Islamist party PAS hints at charm offensive to attract non-Muslim voters

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party needs to address allegations of being ‘extremist’

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Supporters of Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) gather on election nomination in Langkawi, Malaysia, in 2018. Photo: AP

Published: 4:28pm, 13 Sep 2024

The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) meets this weekend to discuss ways to broaden its appeal to non-Muslims, as the opposition bloc finds it increasingly difficult to challenge the administration of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

PAS, along with its allies in the Malay nationalist Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, rode a wave of Malay nationalism to claim a minority stake in Malaysia’s parliament in the 2022 national polls, securing a firm grip on the majority voting bloc coveted by Anwar.

But its leadership has begun to realise it cannot make it into power at the next general election purely on support from Malays, who make up nearly 60 per cent of the country’s 33 million population.

Critics say the party has confected culture wars and promoted an increasingly hardline religious agenda in a bid to fuel support among its Muslim base and unsettle Anwar by driving his administration into taking increasingly conservative positions.

Yet the exclusionary religious rhetoric has alarmed Indian and Chinese minorities and centrist voters.

PAS party youth supporters rally at an event in Kelantan one day before the general election in 2022. Photo: Shutterstock

In an apparent strategic pivot, PAS Deputy President Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man on Wednesday instructed the party’s youth wing to close the divide with Malaysia’s non-Muslim population.