PAS spiritual leader confident party can win more states in GE16

PAS has expressed confidence that the party will be able to expand its dominance and conquer more states, including Malacca, in the 16th general election.

The party’s spiritual leader Hashim Jasin said this is based on the support shown by the people at the moment.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Hashim said PAS is optimistic that the support from the Malay community is still strong, in addition to growing backing from Chinese voters.

“If we look at today’s development, we find that the support for PAS is not decreasing, we are not like other parties. The number of members is increasing, there are always new members every month.

“The calm atmosphere that exists in the party, and the stability of the party has increased the interest of new members. If we can maintain this, what the party’s Malacca chapter wants won’t be impossible.

“Malacca used to be Umno’s stronghold. We never expected that they would lose a few seats, and we won in those seats. If this continues, (PAS’) wish will be achieved,” he said.

There are four states - Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu - under the administration of Perikatan Nasional, which PAS is a part of.

Drawing from history

Yesterday, PAS mouthpiece Harakah Daily quoted the party’s Malacca commissioner Zulkifli Ismail as expressing optimism to govern the state after GE16 if the party’s members were to adopt a certain approach.

Zulkifli said there are more than 23,000 members in the state who can be mobilised to attract the support of the masses.

The Jasin MP then compared the number of PAS members to the six companions of Prophet Muhammad who preached in Madinah to invite locals to embrace Islam in the past.

Learning from the events of the time when Islam started to develop, Zulkifli said the en bloc conversion to Islam of the six individuals from Madinah was part of history.

“It has not happened before that (people who) converted to Islam in large numbers in the same period. That was the first,” he added.

Meanwhile, Hashim said GE15 brought a surprise when PAS received the support of non-Malay balloters in urban areas.

“Many signs from GE15 showed that the support of non-Malay voters is increasing from time to time.

“For instance, we never thought that Alor Setar could go to PAS. The people are evaluating the political stability of the parties now,” he added.

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