Back
About RSIS
Introduction
Building the Foundations
Welcome Message
Board of Governors
Staff Profiles
Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
Dean’s Office
Management
Distinguished Fellows
Faculty and Research
Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
Visiting Fellows
Adjunct Fellows
Administrative Staff
Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
RSIS Endowment Fund
Endowed Professorships
Career Opportunities
Getting to RSIS
Research
Research Centres
Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
Research Programmes
National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)
Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
Other Research
Future Issues and Technology Cluster
Research@RSIS
Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
Graduate Education
Graduate Programmes Office
Exchange Partners and Programmes
How to Apply
Financial Assistance
Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
RSIS Alumni
Outreach
Global Networks
About Global Networks
RSIS Alumni
International Programmes
About International Programmes
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)
International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
Executive Education
About Executive Education
SRP Executive Programme
Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
PUBLIC EDUCATION
About Public Education
Publications
RSIS Publications
Annual Reviews
Books
Bulletins and Newsletters
RSIS Commentary Series
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
Commemorative / Event Reports
Future Issues
IDSS Papers
Interreligious Relations
Monographs
NTS Insight
Policy Reports
Working Papers
External Publications
Authored Books
Journal Articles
Edited Books
Chapters in Edited Books
Policy Reports
Working Papers
Op-Eds
Glossary of Abbreviations
Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
RSIS Publications for the Year
External Publications for the Year
Media
News Releases
Speeches
Video/Audio Channel
Events
Contact Us
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University
  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
  • Research
      Research CentresCentre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Other ResearchFuture Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSISScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      Graduate Programmes OfficeExchange Partners and ProgrammesHow to ApplyFinancial AssistanceMeet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other eventsRSIS Alumni
  • Outreach
      Global NetworksAbout Global NetworksRSIS Alumni
      International ProgrammesAbout International ProgrammesAsia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
      Executive EducationAbout Executive EducationSRP Executive ProgrammeTerrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
      PUBLIC EDUCATIONAbout Public Education
  • Publications
      RSIS PublicationsAnnual ReviewsBooksBulletins and NewslettersRSIS Commentary SeriesCounter Terrorist Trends and AnalysesCommemorative / Event ReportsFuture IssuesIDSS PapersInterreligious RelationsMonographsNTS InsightPolicy ReportsWorking Papers
      External PublicationsAuthored BooksJournal ArticlesEdited BooksChapters in Edited BooksPolicy ReportsWorking PapersOp-Eds
      Glossary of AbbreviationsPolicy-relevant Articles Given RSIS AwardRSIS Publications for the YearExternal Publications for the Year
  • Media
      News ReleasesSpeechesVideo/Audio Channel
  • Events
  • Contact Us
    • Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
      rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
      rsis.sg
      rsissg
      RSIS
      RSS
      Subscribe to RSIS Publications
      Subscribe to RSIS Events

      Getting to RSIS

      Nanyang Technological University
      Block S4, Level B3,
      50 Nanyang Avenue,
      Singapore 639798

      Click here for direction to RSIS
Connect
Search
  • RSIS
  • Publication
  • RSIS Publications
  • CO10063 | PAS: Balancing Inclusion and Tradition
  • Annual Reviews
  • Books
  • Bulletins and Newsletters
  • RSIS Commentary Series
  • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
  • Commemorative / Event Reports
  • Future Issues
  • IDSS Papers
  • Interreligious Relations
  • Monographs
  • NTS Insight
  • Policy Reports
  • Working Papers

CO10063 | PAS: Balancing Inclusion and Tradition
Afif bin Pasuni

16 June 2010

download pdf

Commentary

The Islamic Party of Malaysia is reaching out to non-Muslim voters by forming a new wing of non- Muslim supporters, promoting good governance and playing down the Islamic state. However it is also intent on retaining the support of its traditional conservative base.

The 56th annual party convention of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) held in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, was, for the first time, officially attended by its non-Muslim supporters. PAS’ Spiritual Leader Nik Aziz began his speech by saying, “Ni hao ma?” thereby underlining the party’s most distinct trajectory in recent years.

While PAS is an Islamic political organization, with its objective of establishing an Islamic State, it has acquired an increasing sophistication and nuance in its political strategy. “The future is with Pakatan,” Nik Aziz said in his opening speech, referring to its Alliance partners PRK and DAP. “Only Malays support UMNO,” he added, highlighting PAS’ success in gaining the support of the non Malay-Muslim electorate. The recent by-elections, PAS claims, are testament to UMNO’s faltering support among the non-Muslims.

PAS Youth Chief Nasruddin Hassan Thantawi, in his speech to the PAS Youth Wing, also emphasized more open relations with the non-Muslims through the recently revamped PAS Supporters’ Congress. Further bolstering PAS’ confidence in expanding its non-Muslim base, PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang, launched the theme of this years’ convention “Islam Adil Untuk Semua,” or Islam is Fair for All. He set out PAS’ overall approach for the coming years and stressed their commitment to the democratic system, in tandem with their non-Muslims allies.

Prior to the convention, PAS had announced the formation of a new wing named the Dewan Himpunan PAS (PAS Supporters’ Congress) in May. The wing provides a membership platform for its non-Muslim supporters, which reportedly numbered some 20,000 members. During its launch, PAS also indicated the possibility of fielding members of the new wing for senatorial appointments and elections, thus sidestepping its own constitution which did not allow for non-Muslim members.

The establishment of the Supporters’ Congress marked the culmination of a series of events which involved religious confrontations in Malaysia e.g the issue of the usage of “Allah” by non-Muslims and the attendant attacks on a number of churches. PAS’ argument against the court decision to limit the usage of “Allah” exclusively to Muslims gained favour with the non-Muslims, as did its denunciation of the church attacks.

More recently, the legalization of sports betting by the federal government generated a backlash against the ruling BN coalition. The negative reactions on the ground from a wide range of Malaysian citizens presented a convenient platform for Pakatan – including PAS – to take a definite stance against the government. Reinforcing the well-known prohibition of gambling among Muslims, that stance would have gained the approval of PAS’ traditional base of religious conservatives.

Nevertheless stumbling blocks still remain for PAS, especially in attracting more non-Muslims to its cause. One issue that cannot be separated from PAS is the contentious subject of the Islamic State. So far, PAS has shrewdly played down the Islamic State rhetoric since joining the Pakatan alliance while focussing on a more generic goal of a “just and trustworthy governance”. When asked about its Islamic State objective, PAS claims that it is not abandoning it but is instead working at increasing the understanding of the people- especially non-Muslims – on the concept, while delicately raising its image in front of selected supporters.

Not to be outdone, UMNO, through BN, is also adopting a similar strategy of building a more inclusive image. PM Najib Tun Razak has sought to tone down UMNO’s pro-Malay image and reclaim BN’s multi-ethnic support through the 1Malaysia concept and a purposed New Economic Model to overlap the outdated New Economic Policy. Clearly both UMNO and PAS are moving in the same direction, welcoming the ethnic and religious minorities while risking alienating their own conservative bases that have long been divided. Hence the perception of the parties among both these conservative demographics – UMNO’s ethnic Malays and PAS’ religious supporters- may be acutely sensitive to the way the current issues in Malaysia are being played out. The BN government had to scramble to make a U-turn on the sports betting issue, but only after vehement protests by the opposition. Also while UMNO members have been actively publicised with the pro-Gaza flotilla activists, the latter have been seen lending support to PAS by attending its party convention.

Nevertheless, PAS is still regarded as the most credible opposition to the current government, so much so that PAS has often described itself as the “government-in-waiting”. To realise that goal, it must face its single biggest challenge: its own identity. As an Islamic party, it has to carefully tread the ground and balance an image that attracts the religious conservatives against its more inclusive approach towards the non-Muslim electorate in Malaysia.

With more than half a century of experience, PAS seems to be adopting a cautious approach, and able to discern the difference between the crowds that they are addressing. PAS’ own members have warned of possible alienation of their conservative Muslim supporters by the new emphasis on non- Muslim electorates. At the same time, PAS leaders also conceded that the ground on which the Muslim support was based, is shaky. They have proposed more frequent inter-religious and inter- ethnic forums and activities to avoid any possible conflict of interests. Of course, it remains to be seen how they actually balance the competing demands of their increasingly diverse voters. PAS faces interesting times ahead.

About the Author

Afif bin Pasuni is an Associate Research Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies. 

Categories: RSIS Commentary Series / Southeast Asia and ASEAN

Commentary

The Islamic Party of Malaysia is reaching out to non-Muslim voters by forming a new wing of non- Muslim supporters, promoting good governance and playing down the Islamic state. However it is also intent on retaining the support of its traditional conservative base.

The 56th annual party convention of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) held in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, was, for the first time, officially attended by its non-Muslim supporters. PAS’ Spiritual Leader Nik Aziz began his speech by saying, “Ni hao ma?” thereby underlining the party’s most distinct trajectory in recent years.

While PAS is an Islamic political organization, with its objective of establishing an Islamic State, it has acquired an increasing sophistication and nuance in its political strategy. “The future is with Pakatan,” Nik Aziz said in his opening speech, referring to its Alliance partners PRK and DAP. “Only Malays support UMNO,” he added, highlighting PAS’ success in gaining the support of the non Malay-Muslim electorate. The recent by-elections, PAS claims, are testament to UMNO’s faltering support among the non-Muslims.

PAS Youth Chief Nasruddin Hassan Thantawi, in his speech to the PAS Youth Wing, also emphasized more open relations with the non-Muslims through the recently revamped PAS Supporters’ Congress. Further bolstering PAS’ confidence in expanding its non-Muslim base, PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang, launched the theme of this years’ convention “Islam Adil Untuk Semua,” or Islam is Fair for All. He set out PAS’ overall approach for the coming years and stressed their commitment to the democratic system, in tandem with their non-Muslims allies.

Prior to the convention, PAS had announced the formation of a new wing named the Dewan Himpunan PAS (PAS Supporters’ Congress) in May. The wing provides a membership platform for its non-Muslim supporters, which reportedly numbered some 20,000 members. During its launch, PAS also indicated the possibility of fielding members of the new wing for senatorial appointments and elections, thus sidestepping its own constitution which did not allow for non-Muslim members.

The establishment of the Supporters’ Congress marked the culmination of a series of events which involved religious confrontations in Malaysia e.g the issue of the usage of “Allah” by non-Muslims and the attendant attacks on a number of churches. PAS’ argument against the court decision to limit the usage of “Allah” exclusively to Muslims gained favour with the non-Muslims, as did its denunciation of the church attacks.

More recently, the legalization of sports betting by the federal government generated a backlash against the ruling BN coalition. The negative reactions on the ground from a wide range of Malaysian citizens presented a convenient platform for Pakatan – including PAS – to take a definite stance against the government. Reinforcing the well-known prohibition of gambling among Muslims, that stance would have gained the approval of PAS’ traditional base of religious conservatives.

Nevertheless stumbling blocks still remain for PAS, especially in attracting more non-Muslims to its cause. One issue that cannot be separated from PAS is the contentious subject of the Islamic State. So far, PAS has shrewdly played down the Islamic State rhetoric since joining the Pakatan alliance while focussing on a more generic goal of a “just and trustworthy governance”. When asked about its Islamic State objective, PAS claims that it is not abandoning it but is instead working at increasing the understanding of the people- especially non-Muslims – on the concept, while delicately raising its image in front of selected supporters.

Not to be outdone, UMNO, through BN, is also adopting a similar strategy of building a more inclusive image. PM Najib Tun Razak has sought to tone down UMNO’s pro-Malay image and reclaim BN’s multi-ethnic support through the 1Malaysia concept and a purposed New Economic Model to overlap the outdated New Economic Policy. Clearly both UMNO and PAS are moving in the same direction, welcoming the ethnic and religious minorities while risking alienating their own conservative bases that have long been divided. Hence the perception of the parties among both these conservative demographics – UMNO’s ethnic Malays and PAS’ religious supporters- may be acutely sensitive to the way the current issues in Malaysia are being played out. The BN government had to scramble to make a U-turn on the sports betting issue, but only after vehement protests by the opposition. Also while UMNO members have been actively publicised with the pro-Gaza flotilla activists, the latter have been seen lending support to PAS by attending its party convention.

Nevertheless, PAS is still regarded as the most credible opposition to the current government, so much so that PAS has often described itself as the “government-in-waiting”. To realise that goal, it must face its single biggest challenge: its own identity. As an Islamic party, it has to carefully tread the ground and balance an image that attracts the religious conservatives against its more inclusive approach towards the non-Muslim electorate in Malaysia.

With more than half a century of experience, PAS seems to be adopting a cautious approach, and able to discern the difference between the crowds that they are addressing. PAS’ own members have warned of possible alienation of their conservative Muslim supporters by the new emphasis on non- Muslim electorates. At the same time, PAS leaders also conceded that the ground on which the Muslim support was based, is shaky. They have proposed more frequent inter-religious and inter- ethnic forums and activities to avoid any possible conflict of interests. Of course, it remains to be seen how they actually balance the competing demands of their increasingly diverse voters. PAS faces interesting times ahead.

About the Author

Afif bin Pasuni is an Associate Research Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies. 

Categories: RSIS Commentary Series

Popular Links

About RSISResearch ProgrammesGraduate EducationPublicationsEventsAdmissionsCareersVideo/Audio ChannelRSIS Intranet

Connect with Us

rsis.ntu
rsis_ntu
rsisntu
rsisvideocast
school/rsis-ntu
rsis.sg
rsissg
RSIS
RSS
Subscribe to RSIS Publications
Subscribe to RSIS Events

Getting to RSIS

Nanyang Technological University
Block S4, Level B3,
50 Nanyang Avenue,
Singapore 639798

Click here for direction to RSIS

Get in Touch

    Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
    Privacy Statement / Terms of Use
    Help us improve

      Rate your experience with this website
      123456
      Not satisfiedVery satisfied
      What did you like?
      0/255 characters
      What can be improved?
      0/255 characters
      Your email
      Please enter a valid email.
      Thank you for your feedback.
      This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
      OK
      Latest Book
      more info