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"The party realizes its mistakes during the last polls. The party wants to keep with the changing times," said Abdul Hadi. (Reuters) |
CAIRO — In a major face-lift before the March snap elections, Malaysia's opposition Islamic party said Thursday, February 21, it would not call for an Islamic state and unveiled women and non-Muslim candidates, reported the New Straits Times.
"The party realizes its mistakes during the last polls. The party wants to keep with the changing times," Abdul Hadi Awang, president of the Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), said during the launch of the party’s manifesto.
"One way is not to openly back the Islamic state."
He said the party will ran in the March 8 snap general elections with the slogan "A Nation of Care and Opportunity."
"We promise a government that is trustworthy, just and clean which will be able to give the people a better life," vowed Abdul Hadi.
PAS, the main rival of the ruling National Front coalition in the upcoming election, promised to slash the cost of living and ensure racial and religious equality.
"We offer equal justice to all, justice in economy opportunities and freedom of religion," reads the manifesto.
"PAS will undertake to defend the well-being of the people and safeguard the interest of the nation through prudent management of the wealth and resources of the state and a balanced approach to development."
The March election will pit PAS and two other opposition parties against the ruling coalition, which holds 200 of the 219 seats in the outgoing national legislature and has governed Malaysia in various forms since independence in 1957.
Candidates are vying for 222 parliamentary seats, after the addition of three new constituencies.
The polls would also see the election of twelve state assemblies with a total 505 seats.
In the 2004 polls, PAS campaigned for the creation of an "Islamic state" in multi-ethnic Malaysia, where Muslim Malays constitute about 60 percent of the 26-million population.
The party suffered a humiliating defeat, taking only seven seats in the national assembly and control of he northern state of Kelantan.
Appealing Candidates
As part of its drive to polish its image, PAS is fielding a non-Muslim candidate for the first time on its slate.
Kumutha Rahman, a 29-year-old law graduate, was named PAS candidate in the southernmost state of Johor.
"We want everyone to know that PAS is not only restricted to Muslims," said Johor PAS commissioner Mahfodz Mohamed.
"Even non-Muslims are welcomed in PAS."
Mahfodz said that by breaking the party's 61-year-old tradition of only fielding Muslim candidates, the party is practicing what it preaches about tolerance towards other religions and races.
PAS has also enlisted a record number of 13 women candidates, including several doctors.
They will contest in four parliament and nine state seats.
"We feel that there are a lot of issues affecting female voters that only women representatives can understand and resolve," said Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, PAS commissioner in the state of Pahang.
"Women voters can thus voice their grievances through this channel," he added, unveiling two women candidates for state seats in Pahang.
PAS has already named 18 young candidates to contest the elections.
The ruling coalition is widely tipped to win again, but issues like rising prices and racial tensions are expected to cut into its majority.
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