Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang criticised today PAS' launch of its Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS (PAS Supporters Wing) for non-Muslims as an insincere attempt to portray the Islamist party as multi-racial.

NONE Tan ( left ) was referring to a report in Berita Harian where PAS national unity committee chairperson Mujahid Yusuf Rawa described the launch of the Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS (Assembly of PAS supporters - DHPP) on May 23 as being a major policy shift for PAS.

The move "will allow the non-Muslim wing to operate independently, as wings of the party just like the Dewan Pemuda, Ulama and Muslimat," said Mujahid.

Mujahid was also quoted as saying that DHPP members would be eligible to attend party meetings at all levels.

More significantly, the wing would also be permitted to field non-Muslim candidates in future polls under the banner of PAS.

Tan, however, questioned the party’s sincerity.

"In its essence, non-Muslims under this move to create the DHPP, are still second-class members in PAS,” he said.

Non-Muslim PAS president?

kuala terengganu by election 140109 pas chinese banner 03 "If PAS is sincere in being a multi-racial party, then it should give full membership to non-Muslims.

"That is, non-Muslim members should also be eligible to hold any post in the party, including party president," he challenged.

Without full membership, Tan argued further, the elevation of the PAS Supporters Club to DHPP is only an exercise in changing the name, as its members will remain marginalised and discriminated.

"The slogan ‘PAS For All’ will only continue to remain rhetoric," he said.