The recent statement by PAS central committee member Dzulkefly Ahmad that the Islamic party is prepared to allocate a senior party post to a non-Muslim has prompted objections within the party’s top leadership.

PAS ulama council chief Harun Taib said non-Muslims must convert to Muslim before he or she can be given a senior post in the party, such as deputy president or secretary-general, according to a report in the Malay daily Sinar Harian today.

“If Dzulkefly suggests to allow non-Muslims to be appointed to the post of deputy president, I think that is only his personal view, and there is nothing to do with the party policy. It is not PAS’ decision,” he was quoted as saying.

NONE He explained that the suggestion is impossible because it requires amendments to the party constitution and consent from the muktamar (annual general assembly).

PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali shared the view, saying that Dzulkefly’s suggestion is just a theory which is difficult to materialise.

“I think PAS should remain as what it is now,” he told the Malay daily.

PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan, who is known to take a more conservative stand, insisted that the top leadership at all levels of the party must be comprised of only Muslims.

According to a posting in his Facebook webpage, Nasrudin asserted that PAS is not only a political party but an Islamic movement which must be led by Muslim leaders, but it does not mean PAS will sideline non-Muslims.

He said the Islamic party practices three approaches to engage the non-Muslim community, including having political or social cooperation based on a certain agreement, forming PAS supporters wing, and inviting non-Muslim leaders to join the party’s high level meetings when the need arises.

Dzulkefly made the statement during a forum on Tuesday, saying that the party is prepared to emulate Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party’s (FJP) decision to appoint a non-Muslim as senior party leader when the need arises.

“Maybe the time has not come (but) when it is raised we will discuss about it in the muktamar and we will decide on it together.

“This is only an administrative matter. We cannot say it will never happen because Islam can address change for intellectual renewal. Islam can withstand the challenges of time and realities,” he said.

The Kuala Selangor MP today said in his blog that he will come up with a proper academic writing to explain the position.

"The issue was raised not with a view to woo voters from non-Muslim constituencies...  but more importantly to clarify our Islamic stance - to differentiate between the fixed principles of Islam and those principles that are to be conceptualised (mutaghayyiraat - the changeables) in matters of government-governance."