Hadi: Pas may include non-Muslims in cabinet if it wins polls
KEPALA BATAS: Pas may include non-Muslims in the cabinet, if the party, through its Gagasan Sejahtera pact, comes into power after the 14th General Election (GE14)
Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said it was important to include non-Muslims in governing the country if Gagasan Sejahtera pact came to power.
Earlier, several Indian non-governmental organisations held a dialogue session with him.
Later, Hadi said Pas had finalised its candidates list for GE14.
He said the party’s Syura Council had finalised the list three weeks ago.
“We will have fresh faces, women and non-Muslims from our Gagasan Sejahtera to contest.”
He said the party had decided to contest 130 parliamentary seats.
“Maybe more (seats). We will contest in Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, DAP-friendly Pas assemblyman Datuk Mohd Salleh Man will be “rested” from contesting the Permatang Pasir state seat in GE14.
This was revealed by Penang Pas Commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff, who said the Syura Council had decided to field an alternative candidate.
“Even though he is not contesting, he is still a Pas member.
“We want to field a fresh face, a candidate who can take the voice of Islam to the state assembly,” he said yesterday.
He said the party would announce the possible candidates soon.
Even though Pas had severed ties with Pakatan Rakyat (now known as Pakatan Harapan), Salleh is seen to be working with the latter at the state level.
His political future in the party has been in doubt for several years until yesterday.
He told the New Straits Times that he accepted the decision with an open heart and had no plans to challenge it to contest in GE14.
“Alhamdulillah, I respect the decision by the higher ups.
“I am okay with that (dropped from contesting). I have contributed enough to the party and society.
“I will continue to be with the people and work for the welfare of everyone.”