Wong Chin Huat cites contradictions with the Islamic party’s messaging while Syaza Shukri says non-Malays are wary of Perikatan Nasional’s conservatism.
00:00Analysts are skeptical of PAS's ability to win over non-Malay voters, even as dissatisfaction with the Pakatan Harapan-led unity government grows.
00:11Wang Chin Huat of Sunway University argues that PAS and its coalition, Prakatan Nasional, operate within a zero-sum paradigm where gains for non-Muslims are perceived as losses for Muslims and vice versa.
00:24He said while this paradigm makes PAS's competition against PH and Barisan Nasional most effective, it will not win non-Malay support if they continue to rely on it.
00:35Wang was commenting on PAS Vice President Amar Abdullah's recent claim that the party was looking to woo non-Malay voters who have become disillusioned with the PH-led unity government.
00:46Meanwhile, Shaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia believes that although many non-Malay voters have been critical of PH recently, they remain wary of PN's conservatism.
00:57She said although PH supporters want a clean party, they would not support PN in its current form as they would not compromise on other progressive issues like equality and inclusivity.
01:08Shaza said unless PAS revives the more inclusive approach she had adopted under the leadership of Fazil Noor in the early 2000s, akin to what Amanah is doing today, it will struggle to broaden its base.
