PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan today sought to shed the wing’s old fashioned image ahead of its Muktamar debates tomorrow, urging its members to shed any exclusivist approach in reaching out to youths.

“Now is not the time for us to be exclusivist where we only act in our own playing field.

“We must have the courage to plunge into the hot spot of youths which need guidance,” he told over 700 delegates at the PAS Youth Muktamar opening tonight.

NONE Nasrudin added that PAS Youth not only needed to engage youths in the markets, but also those in the uptown.

The tone tonight was in contrast to its past reputation of protesting against several prominent concerts which they claim would cause morale decay.

However, the seemingly more inclusive approach was tempered with a touch of religion by Nasrudin.

“PAS Youth must position itself among the youths as representing the young generation and understanding their aspiration and voice.

“It must carry their aspiration and idealism so long as it is not against Islam as our struggle,” he said.

Building on the message of inclusiveness, Nasrudin called on PAS Youth to use the Pakatan Rakyat as a platform in reaching out to non-Muslims.

“...In the face of the narrow politics of race left by the British and perpetuated by Umno and BN, more effort must be made to reduce the prejudice of non-Muslims towards PAS.

“Efforts to explain and engage in dialogue... with non-Muslims must be the priority of PAS Youth. The political cooperation with Pakatan Rakyat is the best platform to realise this responsibility,” he said.

Call for introspection

The tone set tonight was also one of introspection, with Nasrudin stating that Allah had reminded its worshipers to have post-mortems on their own actions.

In a self-critique, Nasrudin acknowledged that the wing had been unsatisfactory in its performance to build up young leaders.

“There are many performances that we can be proud of but there are also just as many with weaknesses that we must improve on during this term,” he said.

As such, he said the delegates will debate on this tomorrow.

He added that the wing was prepared to present 60 youth volunteers to assist MPs in conducting their research in carrying out their duties.

Noting that the Muktamar this time  will take place in the face looming national polls, Nasrudin, who leads a wing dominated by conservatives, made no mention of the controversial hudud law in his 55-page speech.

Instead, Nasrudin spoke at length about bread and butter issue such as the spiraling national debt and the high number of household or 40 percent making less than RM1,500.

In overcoming this, Nasrudin endorsed the party’s welfare state agenda, stating that it was key in resolving these woes.

“Acknowledging these realities (economic woes), PAS Youth recognises the heavy responsibility it carries to create change and shape the future of the people and country based on the agenda as stated in the welfare state document put forward by PAS together with our Pakatan Rakyat partners...

“And appreciating the political cooperation on the joint policies of Pakatan Rakyat as contained in the Buku Jingga ,” he said.