Learn Mandarin, Tamil to get closer to non-Malay voters, PAS Youth told

PAS MUKTAMAR | Members of the PAS Youth wing have been urged to start learning vernacular languages to help the party get closer to non-Malay communities.

Its chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said the ability to converse in Mandarin and Tamil can be a powerful tool for PAS members in wooing support from non-Malay voters.

“...the responsibility of wooing support from our non-Malay friends should not be left solely to the wing’s national unity bureau. It is only a unit with limited resources.

“The unity agenda is PAS and PAS Youth’s agenda. Everyone in PAS Youth must work together and mobilise efforts towards achieving this objective,” Afnan (above) said.

“If we need to go for a Mandarin class, then go and learn. If you need to (learn to) speak Tamil, go ahead.

“Because by mastering languages other than Bahasa Melayu, it can be a tool or mechanism for us to communicate and get closer to them (the non-Malays),” he told PAS Youth delegates at its muktamar in Temerloh, Pahang this morning.

Last night at a press conference after officiating the 65th PAS Youth muktamar, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man remarked that language barriers were a major factor keeping people divided.

He cited how when Chinese people “speak Chinese”, Malays would “buruk sangka” (have bad assumptions) because they did not understand the language.

In his policy speech, Afnan reminded the wing’s members to wipe off the stigma that all non-Malay voters support DAP.

The Alor Setar MP said such a mindset is wrong and they should realise many non-Malays do not support DAP or Pakatan Harapan.

‘Catching the catcher’

Earlier in his speech, Afnan cracked a joke when he called for PAS Youth members to equip themselves with “soft skills” and “hard skills” in leadership.

In an apparent reference to Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor who recently wedded a police officer as his second wife, the youth chief said they should also learn the skill of “menangkap orang yang mahu menangkapnya” (catching the catcher).

“Today, many old people or veterans have become younger when it comes to being skilful, especially on social media.

“Some are creative in making content. There are some who are experts in catching the people who try to catch them. Looks like we also need to learn these skills,” Afnan said.

The remarks had delegates in the hall in stitches.

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