Fielding non-Muslims in Sabah a waste of time for PAS, says analyst
PETALING JAYA : An analyst has dismissed PAS's plan to field non-Muslim candidates in the upcoming Sabah state election, describing it as futile and out of touch with local political dynamics.
Tawfik Yaakub, a political analyst at Universiti Malaya, said the decision was a political gamble that could have long-term repercussions for the party.
Speaking to FMT, Tawfik said PAS's non-Muslim supporters' wing in Sabah had limited reach, with only some 1,000 members from the Dusun and Chinese communities.
'In my view, PAS is chasing an unrealistic goal – it's a waste of time and a disconnect from reality.
'Politics in Sabah is not like politics in Peninsular Malaysia,' he said.
Meanwhile, Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said it would be difficult for PAS to win a seat in Sabah, even with non-Muslim candidates.
He also said it was almost certain that Sabahans would not vote for a PAS candidate if the party used its own logo at the polls.
'There's a chance of winning if they use the Perikatan Nasional logo, provided that the voters aren't aware that the candidate is from PAS,' said Mazlan.
'However, their opponents will likely campaign against PAS by pointing out that the candidate is from PAS. If the voters know, they may think twice before choosing the PAS candidate.'
National Council of Professors fellow Azmi Hassan previously said that PAS's 'extreme rhetoric' had led to a negative perception of the party in East Malaysia, which it would find difficult to dispel.
He also said that parties in Sabah and Sarawak were inclined to prioritise the best interests of their states, particularly regarding their rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Sabah PAS yesterday said it was open to fielding non-Muslim candidates in the upcoming state election, expected to be held later this year.
PAS previously said it would contest at least six of the 73 seats in the Sabah state assembly.
Sabah PAS commissioner Aliakbar Gulasan is one of six assemblymen appointed by the state government after the 2020 state election. PAS did not contest any seats in that election.
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