"PAS has been getting the support of non-Muslims. Therefore, there is room to enable them to become party members," Awang said.

KUALA LUMPUR – The Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) has reaffirmed readiness to change rules to admit non-Muslim members and allow them to serve in high-powered posts.

"PAS has been getting the support of non-Muslims. Therefore, there is room to enable them to become party members," party president Abdul Hadi Awang told the official Bernama news agency on Wednesday, June 8.

"That is why, if necessary, we are prepared to amend the party regulation," he added.

The new move is meant to make the party more appealing to ethnic minorities in multiethnic Malaysia.

PAS was trounced in 2004 elections, retaining only the northeastern state of Kelantan.

Since then, it has been trying to revamp its image and capture support among Malaysia's ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.

In Kelantan, PAS has lifted a 15-year ban on the popular games of snooker and billiards and allowed cinemas to operate -- although with the lights on to prevent any unseemly behavior.

Muslim Malays comprise about 60 percent of Malaysia’s 26 million people, while ethnic Chinese and Indians - most of them Buddhists, Hindus and Christians - make up about 35 percent. The rest are indigenous people and Eurasians.

High Posts

Awang said allowing non-Muslim members into the party would not clash with its policies.

He said non-Muslim PAS members would be able to obtain high posts in the Muslim state.

"For example, in the context of a country with an Islamic administration, non-Muslim citizens supporting the Islamic administration can be appointed to serve as ministers," he said.

The PAS leader, however, did not see it necessary to change the party rules at present to allow non-Muslim membership.

"The amendment is not seen as something urgent as PAS has worked out cooperation with Keadilan, which has nominated non-Muslim candidates to contest in several constituencies," he said, referring to a pact with another opposition party.

Malaysia offers the image of a model Muslim country, heading towards the status of developed nation with huge buildings, beautiful cities and a fast track economy.

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi launched on Friday, March 31, an ambitious development plan for Malaysia to become the first developed Muslim nation by 2020.