PAS – from cave to condo

The party's welfare state concept wins praise from an Indian business group.

PETALING JAYA: PAS’ proposal to set up a welfare state won accolades from a business group, which said that the move was in tandem with the people’s expectations.

From a political perspective, Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar said PAS had “come out of the cave and moved into a condominium”.

“Thousands of Malaysians have left the country because of a system that discriminates and differentiates the races. They feel insulted because of the unequal treatment. And the call to end the discrimination and to treat all citizens the same falls on deaf ears,” he told FMT.

PAS’ welfare state, Sivakumar noted, was different and promised to be a colour-blind system of governance.

“It is based on the principles of equal opportunities, equitable distribution of wealth and public responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life.

“The welfare state has surely caught the attention of Barisan Nasional politicians. This can be seen from their critical statements,” he said.

Sivakumar said Malaysian politics must change from mere “fanfare attractions” in order to convince the people to support a particular party.

“The real issues must be addressed in an open manner based on political, social and economic justice,” he stressed.

Now with PAS no longer pushing for an Islamic state and reaffirming its pledge to Pakatan Rakyat, Sivakumar said: “The mother of all battles is looming come the next general election.”

“The people of Malaysia should ask themselves one question, ‘Is this the promised land or are we still searcing for the promised land after 54 years of independence?’” he added.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had announced the welfare state concept at the party’s annual general meeting over the weekend.

The move even won praise from DAP national chairman Karpal Singh, who in the past was always at loggerheads with PAS over the latter’s theocratic goal.

Karpal commended Hadi for being realistic and pragmatic in feeling the pulse of non-Muslims in the country.

However, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had dismissed the welfare state as nothing new.

“This (welfare state) is what Umno and BN have been fighting for all this time. It is not a new matter,” he said.