Steering youths away from social ills and attracting support from the younger generation will be among the main issues to be tabled at the PAS Youth annual general assembly which begins tonight.

Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub said the focus will be on finding ways to prevent youths from falling prey to negative activities.

"As Youth leaders we have the responsibility to save our youths from falling into social ills as this is at a critical level now.

"We will try to brainstorm strategies and programmes which are not only positive but attractive enough to attract their attention," he said when contacted.

Although conceding that it will be no easy task, Salahuddin however is confident that this year's meet will produce "something cogent" for the benefit of the party and youths.

The Youth, Dewan Ulamak and Dewan Muslimat (Women's) wings will hold their respective annual meets over the next two days in Kota Baru, Kelantan. This will be followed by the party's annual general assembly or muktamar, which will begin on Friday.

The Youth assembly will be officiated by PAS deputy president Hassan Shukri.

'Glass wall'

Federal Territory Youth chief Ridhuan Mohd Noor said his team will focus on the need to inject youthfulness into the party.

"We must emulate other parties who have quickly reacted after they found that support from the younger generation was dwindling.

"For example Umno formed Puteri Umno for young female professionals and to a certain extent it succeeded," he pointed out.

According to Ridhuan, there seems to be a 'glass wall' between the Youth wing and the parent party.

He said the March 21 general election results, which saw a dismal performance by the Islamic opposition party, revealed an urgent need to bring down the wall.

"We need to adopt a strategy to tear that stumbling block. For example we take advantage over the younger generation's interest in arts and entertainment.

"Lately there is a craze for romance novels among teenagers. PAS can publish similar novels based on Islamic teachings," he suggested.

He said since entertainment played a huge role in the lives of youths, the party can seek the help of artistes, who have openly supported the party such as former film stars Azmil Mustapha and Sabree Fadhil, to propagate itself.

Thorny issue

Meanwhile, PAS Perak Youth chief Muhaimin Sulam said the change in the Malaysian political landscape required the party leadership to re-look its approaches, especially regarding the younger generation.

He said changes can only happen if party leaders are open enough to accept constructive criticisms and part with traditional practices.

"This is where the Youths must play its role and openly criticise the leaders if there is a need to. We should not be afraid to speak our mind and this is among the issues that the Perak Youth will raise," he added.

Muhaimin said he will also be tabling a motion seeking the leaders to give a clear definition of the party's concept of 'Kepimpinan Melalui Ulamak' (leadership by scholars).

"There is a need for all of us to return to the real concept of the policy, When it was first motioned in the 1987 Youth assembly, and later approved by the general assembly, it had empowered the Majlis Syura Ulamak (scholars consultative council) as the guiding body for all.

"The original intention of the concept is to ensure that all leaders, be they ulamak or professionals, are guided by the council. It did not say that top leaders must be scholars," he added.

He agreed that there is a need to tread carefully on this issue as the move could be misconstrued by senior leaders.

"We will present it in a proper and rationale manner so that the matter can be settled with minimum friction among members.

"Of course we can't please everyone but that is the risk we have to take to initiate the change that the party badly needs."