PAS’s stance against KK Mart boycott not enough, says analyst

 

Political analyst Mazlan Ali says PAS’s stance against the KK Mart boycott contrasts with controversial statements the party has made in recent months.

PETALING JAYA: PAS’s refusal to support the boycott of KK Mart proposed by Umno in the wake of the “Allah” socks controversy will not be enough to win over the support of the non-Malay community, an analyst says.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said PAS’s stance on the issue contradicts its position on several other racial- and religiously-charged issues.

Speaking to FMT, he said the party’s stand on the boycott alone would not win over the support of non-Malays, especially the Chinese.

The Chinese, said Mazlan, are largely “strategic” in their political support, and would not support a party based on surface-level actions.

Mazlan Ali.

“Earlier issues such as Lim Kit Siang’s statement about a non-Malay prime minister, local government elections, and the opening of school canteens during Ramadan, among others, saw responses from PAS that were not accommodating of non-Muslims.

“Just because PAS does not support the boycott of KK Mart, it doesn’t mean that the Chinese community values PAS as a party with the same (multicultural) views as Pakatan Harapan’s component parties,” he said.

Last week, PAS’s ulama wing chief Ahmad Yahya said the party would not join in the boycott of KK Mart, spearheaded by Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh following a discovery of socks imprinted with the word “Allah” on sale at the convenience store chain’s Bandar Sunway store.

Reacting to the announcement, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim said PAS, unlike Umno, had adopted a “practical approach to Malaysian politics” and shown it “understands domestic and geopolitics well”.

“It is sensible not to be anti-Chinese for the well-being of the Malays and the country,” the outspoken Umno member told FMT, adding that the position of the Chinese community in the domestic economy was well entrenched.

“No amount of racist posturing and boycotts will make a difference,” he said.

Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said PAS’s stance on the issue proved that the party is realistic and understands the country’s multiracial nature.

He said younger leaders like Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden are slowly moving the party towards a more moderate path, despite president Abdul Hadi Awang’s conservative leadership stance.

Fauzi said PAS will become more rational when Hadi steps down as president.

“It’s true that the party still has some weaknesses and is too conservative, but it is slowly changing.

“They are not aiming for (change within) five to 10 years. PAS is not in a hurry to get in power,” he said. - FMT