Former MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker today proposed several strategies for PAS to appeal to Chinese and Indian voters, emphasizing the need to abandon religious and political rhetoric in favor of practical, inclusive approaches. He argued that PAS’s focus on Malay supremacy and political Islam alienates non-Malay-Muslim communities.
Ti highlighted that Chinese and Indian voters prioritize a party’s ability to address pressing issues such as the economy, education, cost of living, and job opportunities. “PAS should position itself as a party offering practical solutions for the nation, rather than one associated with moral policing,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
To build genuine connections, Ti urged PAS to engage sincerely with Chinese and Indian communities, moving beyond viewing them solely as political assets. He recommended active participation in cultural events, multicultural forums, and visits to places of worship, as well as empowering non-Muslim leaders within PAS’s supporters’ wing. “Don’t just show up during election season,” he cautioned, also advocating for public support of vernacular schools to demonstrate inclusivity.
Ti’s comments follow his earlier statement that Chinese and Indian communities are unlikely to embrace PAS without a shift from its conservative image. His remarks come in the context of PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s invitation for MCA and MIC to join Perikatan Nasional, amid growing discontent in some MCA and MIC state chapters over Barisan Nasional’s limited access to government positions.
As a former deputy unity minister, Ti called for PAS to adopt a universal and accommodating narrative, moving away from dogmatic stances. “PAS should speak as a party representing all Malaysians, not just Malay-Muslims,” he said.
He also advised PAS to moderate its positions on non-Muslim religions and cultures, warning that inflexibility reinforces perceptions of the party as judgmental and intolerant of diversity.
“Each time PAS fails to compromise, it risks alienating non-Malay voters who will distance themselves from the party,” he concluded.
