INTERVIEW PAS has admitted that the decrease in support of non-Muslims for the Islamist party was “worrying”.

PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat also admitted that something should be done to rectify this.

Suhaizan, in an interview with Malaysiakini, was responding to the decreased support by non-Muslims for the party since the last general election.

“Yes, we admit there is a slight decrease, and this has become a challenge for us.

“We received high support from the non-Muslims in the last general election. Maybe several misunderstandings have occurred since then.”

The PAS leader admitted that the challenge now was to ensure that the non-Muslims had confidence in the party.

When asked whether the decrease in support was due to the issue of hudud and the then-menteri besar imbroglio in Selangor, Suhaizan confirmed that both issues had played a role in the matter.

“They (non-Muslims) had high hopes, and maybe there were things which were not in accordance with what they wanted.

“It is just like selling things, not all of our goods will be accepted.

“And as sellers, we cannot scold the consumers. We are the ones who have to change the (quality) of the goods,” he said.

Asked whether the issue will be discussed in the upcoming party elections, Suhaizan said the issue was related to PAS’ position in Pakatan Rakyat.

“This issue is related to that itself, especially when we talk about Pakatan,” he said.

‘Majority want PAS to continue in Pakatan’

Asked on PAS’ position in Pakatan, Suhaizan claimed that a majority of PAS members want the party to continue in the coalition.

“And PAS can continue in Pakatan, as long as the coalition does not go against any Islamic law.

“If not, the syura council will have to make another decision (on staying in Pakatan),” he said.

Meanwhile, another issue going into the party elections, apart from PAS’ position in Pakatan, will be on the country’s Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself.

“That is, if he is still the prime minister (in June). We will also talk about the goods and services tax (GST), 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), and the Altantuya Shaariibuu case,” he said.

Apart from PAS party president Abdul Hadi Awang being challenged in the upcoming PAS elections, the party’s rival, Umno, is also seeing something similar occurring in the party.

It is no longer a secret that there is a sizeable number of Umno members who are unhappy with Najib, and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad no longer keeps his unhappiness with Najib under wraps, hinting on several occasions that the latter should resign.

PAS, on the other hand, will hold its elections during the 61st PAS general assembly from June 4 to 6.

Part I: Toppling Hadi a tall order, says Youth chief