Non-Muslims, professionals and former civil servants will make up the list of new faces to be fielded by PAS in the next general election, said its deputy president Mohamad Sabu.

NONE Speaking at a press conference after a forum on ‘PAS roadmap to Putrajaya’, Mohamad ( left ) however, declined to reveal how many of these new faces will be fielded.

“We are in the process of approaching and identifying candidates who we feel could help PAS and Pakatan Rakyat in the next general election.

“They may be young or old, and could be former civil servants, ex-army and police personnell,” he said in Kuala Lumpur.

He added that since 2008, PAS members are more open to accepting non-Muslims from its supporters club as candidates.

He said this is especially so now as even Egypt’s Ikhwan Muslimin had fielded a Christian candidate.

However, when asked if this is only the view of the leadership, he said that there will always be “psychological attacks” to plant uncertainty among members but it is something that can be overcome.

He also said that the seat negotiations among Pakatan partners was already 80 percent resolved, with only “one or two seats” in different states still being discussed.

“That is to say that even if parliament is dissolved next week, we can resolve this matter easily,” he said.

Among the seats still being discussed are those currently held by independent candidates who had left Pakatan, such as Nibong Tebal, Bayan Baru and Bagan Serai.

“The partners’ argument is that the people who jumped are individuals and not the party (but) there may be swaps among those seats,” he said.

Progressive thinkers, young or old

During the roundtable discussion organised by Kumpulan Aktivis Media Independen (Kami) earlier, PAS member Abdul Rahman Othman suggested that PAS copy DAP’s 2008 strategy to field young professionals.

Abdul Rahman also suggested that PAS strategically announce the names of these candidates before the campaign period, without naming the seats they will contest in.

Responding to this, Mohamad said for PAS, it was not a question of young or old but rather that they are progressive thinkers.

“Things like Valentine’s Day and (the film) Hantu Bonceng were all issues raised by young people. If we field young candidates who end up winning, my fear is we’ll be talking about Hantu Bonceng in parliament,” he quipped.

NONE He also said that in 2008, now first-term Subang Jaya assemblyperson Hannah Yeoh ( right ) had asked him for tips on how to be a good candidate.

“So I said shake people’s hands, wave to people, etc. She followed my advice and she won, but I lost. DAP has a different audience.”

Mohamad added that PAS will inform selected candidates as soon as they have decided, but he is uncertain if they will make a public announcement about these new candidates.

He also said that certain incumbents will be dropped while others retained, depending on their chances of winning.

Observers pessimistic of PAS march to Putrajaya