PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has expressed concern over reports that 134 Chinese civil society organisations are encouraging members of the Chinese community to return home to vote in the Johor state election.
Speaking after Perikatan Nasional’s grand finale ceramah in Simpang Jeram, Hadi said the reported mobilisation could affect Muslim political influence if Malay voters failed to fulfil their responsibility at the ballot box this Saturday.
He said he was concerned after reading media reports indicating that Chinese organisations were encouraging voters to return home, while some Malays were not expected to vote.
Hadi also claimed that some Malay voters would miss the election because they were performing the umrah pilgrimage.
Chinese groups encourage voters to return
Media reports on Wednesday stated that 134 Chinese organisations, including the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, had jointly urged Johor and Negeri Sembilan voters to return home to cast their ballots.
Hadi also appealed to non-Muslims whom he described as ‘non-extremists’ to support the coalition’s political struggle.
Reflects on cooperation with DAP and PKR
Hadi recalled PAS’ previous political cooperation with DAP and PKR, saying the partnership had been built on shared opposition to corruption, abuse of power, the Internal Security Act and several federal government policies at the time.
He said PAS later ended its cooperation with DAP after the party allegedly asked PAS to abandon its goal of establishing an Islamic state.
According to Hadi, PAS could not accept such a request. He also cited disagreements over efforts to restrict alcohol and gambling in Kelantan, saying the Federal Constitution provides that Islamic law applies only to Muslims, while non-Muslims are not subject to those laws.
