Veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has urged PAS to draw inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s recent reforms if the Islamist party aims to win over Malaysia’s diverse voters.
In an exclusive interview with FMT, Tengku Razaleigh pointed to the transformations under Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a model for modernisation while preserving core Islamic principles.
“You see what’s happening even in Saudi Arabia. People talk about the extremism experienced there,” he said. “But now, Mohammed bin Salman has paved the way to modernise life in Saudi Arabia without giving in on the hard and fast rules about Islamic life. If PAS can adopt that, maybe it will be acceptable here.”
The former Gua Musang MP, who held the seat for four decades until 2022, noted that many Malaysians still view PAS as a party intent on imposing strict religious rules.
“People look at PAS as a religious party that will make rules and force people to comply with their religious beliefs and rituals,” he explained. “It may not be so, but we don’t know. We have seen some of the things they have done in Kelantan where they rule. Some people don’t like them, and interpret these things as a sign of things to come in the future if they rule the country. So they reject PAS because of that.”
In Kelantan, where PAS has long governed, the party has strengthened religious enforcement measures. These include dress codes for women, tight controls on entertainment, rigorous concert permit requirements, and gender segregation at public events—actions that have solidified its conservative reputation.
Tengku Razaleigh emphasised that PAS must prioritise fairness in both words and deeds, aligning with the essence of Islam.
“Our religion treats everybody equally. There is no discrimination in Islam,” he said. “(PAS) must demonstrate that, and not little things about dressing and all the other things they are trying to force people to comply with.”
