By Adib ZalkapliKUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — Pas wants the formation of a Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government to be backed by a Muslim-majority among its lawmakers.
A little over half of PR's legislators are now Muslim, and there is concern among Pas that a new government could be dominated by non-Muslims, depending on who potentially defects from Barisan Nasional (BN).
Yesterday, Anwar met Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and the party's spiritual advisor Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat.
A Pas official who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Malaysian Insider that it is not surprising if racial and religious composition was raised at yesterday's meeting.
"It has always been our position that the Pakatan government back benchers have to be Muslim majority," he added.
Pas Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad admitted that having a majority of Muslim MPs has always been a condition set by Pas for Anwar to form a new government, but added that it is to ensure stability.
"When we take over the government, and we don't have a Muslim majority, Umno may capitalise on it, and resort to creating social unrest," he told The Malaysian Insider.
He is also worried that the ruling party may not be willing to give up power when the time comes.
He is also worried that the ruling party may not be willing to give up power when the time comes.
"At the state level, it may not be as sensitive when we form the government with non-Muslimmajority," he added.
Terengganu Pas Youth chief Azman Shapawi said that it is necessary for the Pakatan Rakyat government to be supported by Muslim majority back benchers. However, he added that the situation in Perak shows that it may not be necessary as long as there is mutual respect among the lawmakers.
Of course we are worried if the majority of the MPs are non-Muslims as we may not be able to defend the position of Islam, but in Perak's case it has worked well so far," he told The Malaysian Insider.
The Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak led by Pas's Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has 31 Assemblymen and only nine of them are Muslims, while BN has 28 Assemblymen including one non-Muslim.
Azman also hoped that the meeting yesterday between Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had managed to resolve some of the Islamist party's concerns.
Hadi had in the past insisted that the Anwar-led government has to be supported by a majority of Muslim MPs for the Islamic party to remain with Pakatan Rakyat. ... [TMI]
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