According to a report in the Star PAS Youth's outgoing Youth Chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, he had said that his biggest regret when leaving the post was that PAS has yet to win over the hearts of the non-Malays and non-Muslims in the country.
He reportedly said that he is not sad to leave this post as he is confident that the leaders who will come after him will be better; his only regret is that PAS Youth has yet to make major inroads among the non-Muslim and non-Malay voters.
Speaking at the party's recent three-day muktamar (annual general assembly) held at the Convention Centre in Shah Alam, he added that it must endeavour to capture the votes and support of non-Muslims and non-Malays before the next general election.
According to him, apparently, the non-Muslims and non-Malays have a "good perception" of PAS and that they have to "exemplify" its members to secure their votes. He hoped that the new leadership will take up this challenge and they will be able to succeed.
During the annual general assembly, Ahmad Fadhli had stood down from contesting his post and handed over the reins to the incoming chief and former deputy Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden.
Meanwhile, later at a press conference, the new youth chief, Afnan had said that he would pursue the support of the non-Malays and non-Muslims as it is imperative for the party to garner the support of all if Perikatan Nasional - of which PAS is a component - was to capture Putrajaya in the next general election.
He also pointed out that, this time, unlike before, the PAS Youth annual general assembly had a few non-Malays and non-Muslims as observers and this showed that they are beginning to accept PAS.
Afnan added that efficient governance in the four Perikatan states of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu would be the best way to get the support of everyone regardless of race and religion.
While the party was honest about its failure, it can't be denied that it has been vocal about certain issues affecting the non-Malays and non-Muslims.
For instance, last year PAS Youth was adamant that concerts featuring international artists should not be allowed in Malaysia; it had threatened to mobilise nationwide protests if their request was not heeded.
They claimed that these concerts promote “inappropriate” values and “go against” Islam as the religion of the federation.
Apparently, the controversy started on Aug 19, 2022, when their youth chief Ahmad Fadhli took to Facebook to warn organisers not to “challenge the emotions of Muslims”.
While Ahmad Fadhli did not mention any concert in particular, his statement came barely one day after the popular American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish’s concert at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
He further warned that PAS Youth would not hesitate to mobilise nationwide resistance and protests if his call was ignored; he added that the continuous holding of concerts in Malaysia would invoke the anger of God!
Interestingly however, his counterpart from DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) Dr Kelvin Yii, had retorted that "the Almighty would be angrier with blatant corruption, bad governance, inequality, discrimination and oppressive laws”!
Then in early 2023 again PAS Youth found itself in the middle of a storm!
This time, it was over the headline-grabbing incident of Terengganu PAS Youth members marching intimidatingly on the streets armed with fake swords, spears and shields and dressed in mediaeval Islamic war costume; it was later dismissed as “cosplay” and was apparently part of a two-day PAS Youth “Himpunan Pemuda Islam Terengganu” (HIMPIT) gathering.
Still, it caused widespread fear among many peace-loving non-Malays and non-Muslims, including those from Sabah and Sarawak, who viewed it as a blatant “show of might” and an implicit threat to those who don't subscribe to their religious ideology.
Thus, bearing in mind the nature of their struggle in the context of a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, it might prove to be an uphill battle for them to win over the non-Malays and non-Muslims; the latter are also conscious of their own "constitutional rights".
So, unless the party's topmost leadership is prepared to make some concessions and agree to “live, and let live”, as it did during its time together in Pakatan Harapan more than a decade ago, seriously it's difficult to see how they can achieve their goal of winning over the hearts and minds of the non-Malays and non-Muslims.
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