WHETHER this is a rude awakening which has come a little too late or otherwise, perhaps PAS vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah deserved credit for having boldly pointed out that “we should not be too busy taking care of the Malays until we forget the Chinese and Indians”.

Although the truth was deflected to “the current economic situation which not only impacted the Malays but also the Chinese and Indians”, the observation of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly speaker could be both timely and strategic given that many PKR and DAP loyalist/supporters could have turned fence-sitters in recent times.

This follows disgruntlement with how both Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties have become toothless with many promised reforms embedded in the coalition’s election manifesto remaining unfulfilled or to borrow the proverbial “are swept under the carpet”.

In this regard, Mohd Amar could have struck the chord considering that the ringgit’s devaluation followed by the unsettled corrupt practices are issues that are close to the heart of the Chinese who are actively involved in business.

“However, sometimes we aren’t bothered ourselves because we only focus on religious issues and even when we talk about PAS for All, we only think about our own problems,” HarakahDaily quoted him as saying at the Central PAS Information Convention held in Taman Melewar, Gombak on Saturday (March 2).

In this regard, for PAS to become a government, it is of paramount important to care for the welfare of all ethnic groups especially with the PAS for All principle in place, according to Mohd Amar.

“How can we become a government if we only think in the context of our Muslim Malays when the Chinese and Indians, too, have their own sets of problems?” asked the four-term Panchor state assemblyman.

“So that’s why when we say PAS for All, it must include all races and that’s why the most important thing is the issue of justice and community rights,” opined the former deputy Kelantan menteri besar.

“When we really emphasise economic issues, including the abuse of the national coffers, many non-Muslims will start to join us. I mention examples like this so that everyone can start having a broader mindset.” - March 5, 2024

https://focusmalaysia.my/has-pas-just-woken-up-from-deep-slumber-that-it-has-also-to-care-for-the-chinese-and-indians/