You’re why non-Muslims don’t back PAS, Lim tells Hadi

 

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang says it is tough for PAS to woo non-Muslim voters with its president, Abdul Hadi Awang, making allegedly ‘extremist’ and ‘irrational’ statements.

PETALING JAYA: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is the reason why non-Muslims do not support the Islamic party, says DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.

Lim said it was tough for PAS to woo non-Muslim voters with Hadi making allegedly “extremist” and “irrational” statements, citing his recent comments pinning the blame for corruption on non-Bumiputeras.

In a statement, the Iskandar Puteri MP also hit out at the non-Muslim supporters’ wing of PAS for not having the courage to rebuke Hadi over his views and comments.

“If Hadi wants PAS to penetrate non-Muslim areas, then he must give up his extremist and bigoted views,” he said.

In his closing speech at PAS’ annual muktamar yesterday, Hadi said the party will be looking to win over non-Muslim voters who might be on the fence in the coming general election.

“If DAP can field an Indian candidate in a Chinese-majority area, why can’t we get Chinese voters to support us during the general election,” he had said.

In a separate statement, Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy told Hadi that DAP was more inclusive in terms of religion and ethnicity, compared to PAS, thus appealing to non-Muslims.

The DAP central executive committee member also dismissed the non-Muslim supporters’ wing of PAS as meaningless, pointing out that its members did not have any decision-making or voting right in the party. - FMT