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By Mihar Dias October 2025
It seems Professor James Chin has taken to polishing his crystal ball again in Tasmania and declared that PAS might just land itself a deputy premiership after the next general election. The Vibes
A bold prediction, perhaps, but one that feels more like an academic parlour trick than serious political insight.
Let’s start with the obvious: if PAS somehow manages to win three more states — Pahang, Selangor, and Perak — as their muktamar dreams suggest, then why settle for deputy anything? The Vibes
If the green wave is so unstoppable, wouldn’t they want the top job?
Or are we to believe that after years of sermonising about moral governance, PAS would suddenly be content with playing second fiddle to a Bersatu still haunted by its own corruption baggage?
Even the most loyal ustaz would find that logic hard to swallow.
Professor Chin’s forecast reads like a weather report from a different climate zone — technically sound, but detached from local humidity. The Vibes
Yes, PAS is strong in the Malay heartlands, but the idea that they can simply extend that dominance into mixed or urban states ignores a glaring social reality.
As Chin himself concedes, most non-Muslims fear that a PAS-led administration would morph Malaysia into an Islamist state. The Vibes
If that’s the case, how exactly will they win over Puchong, Shah Alam, or Ipoh Garden? Handing out green pamphlets at pasar malam won’t do the trick.
Then there’s the matter of credibility. PAS leaders can shout “Islamic governance” all day long, but when it comes to running a modern, multi-ethnic economy, the record speaks for itself.
Look at Kelantan’s water supply. Or Terengganu’s economic dependency on federal allocations. Even the moon landing looks more achievable than their dream of managing Selangor’s high-tech economy.
So when Chin suggests that PAS could get its first-ever deputy prime minister, one wonders: is this analysis or wishful thinking?
Perhaps the professor’s crystal ball needs recalibration. It’s one thing to read the political temperature; it’s another to mistake steam for smoke.
In truth, PAS’s greatest challenge isn’t just expanding its influence among non-Muslims — it’s convincing the middle class, the business community, and even moderate Malays that it knows how to govern in the 21st century.
Running a country requires more than quoting scripture; it demands policy, vision, and the humility to admit that modern Malaysia cannot be painted in a single shade of green.
So, Professor Chin, we appreciate your insight from afar — but maybe next time, before making predictions about who’s going to be Malaysia’s next deputy premier, put the crystal ball down and take a walk through Shah Alam’s industrial parks or Penang’s coffee shops. You might find that the view on the ground is a lot less mystical — and far more grounded in reality.
Because from where I’m standing, PAS becoming DPM material still looks about as likely as snow in Kota Bharu.
Mihar Dias (mihardias@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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