PAS has described a proposal by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Anwar Ibrahim to appoint a non-Malay as a deputy prime minister should the opposition come to power as a media sensation.

PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali said the opposition alliance made up of the DAP, PKR and PAS had not held any discussion on the matter.

Speaking when winding up debate at the 56th PAS Muktamar (general assembly) at the Kelantan Tarbiyah Islamiyah Centre here today, he urged all quarters especially the media not turn the issue into a polemic as it would confuse the people.

He said any decision on the appointment of a non-Malay as a deputy prime minister must be collectively endorsed by all component parties in the opposition.

A Johor delegate, Atan Gombang, yesterday asked PAS leaders to state the party's stand on Anwar's proposal to appoint a non-Malay as a deputy prime minister.  

Mustafa said the issue was never discussed, and this could be proven as the opposition top leaders meet at least once a month to coordinate their actions.    

Meanwhile, PAS election director Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman said the opposition alliances in Selangor and Kedah might lose in the 13th general election if they fail to gain the support of the younger generation and register them as voters.

He said the PKR candidate's defeat in the Hulu Selangor by-election recently showed that support from the Malay voters opped by six per cent while that of the Indian voters plummeted by 10 per cent.

"If young voters are not registered by the party before the next general election, the Pakatan will lose Selangor with PAS will be left with only two seats (in Selangor)," he added.  

- Bernama