Malaysia criticizes PAS proposal to limit posts for non-Muslims
In Malaysia, Abdul Hadi Awang, president of the Islamist Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), was criticized over his proposal to limit the range of ministerial posts that non-Muslims could hold under a PAS government. Ramkarpal Singh, deputy secretary-general of the Democratic Action Party, called the idea divisive and contrary to the constitution, Channel NewsAsia reports.
At PAS’s annual congress in the state of Kelantan on September 5, Hadi said that non-Muslims could be ministers, but only in portfolios related to implementing government policy. Policy formulation, under his approach, would remain the responsibility of Muslims. He also said that Islamic affairs and the implementation of sharia law should be under the purview of Muslims.
Criticism from politicians and religious council
Singh stressed that Malaysia’s federal constitution does not provide for the division of cabinet posts based on race or religion. According to him, all citizens should be considered candidates for ministerial posts in accordance with the principle of equality before the law. He also noted that Malaysia’s cabinet has been multiracial since independence.
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism also expressed constitutional concerns over Hadi’s statements. The council linked his current remarks to previous statements and said that PAS seeks to create a theocratic Islamic state in the country. In the organization’s view, such a model is incompatible with the federal constitution’s provisions on equality of citizens and equal protection under the law.
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The council recalled a 2024 Federal Court ruling that struck down 16 provisions of Kelantan state criminal legislation concerning sharia, finding that the state legislature had no authority to enact them. Kelantan is a PAS stronghold state, which the party has governed since 1990.
PAS position
Hadi’s political aide Syahir Sulaiman said that the interpretation of the party president’s words depends on which ministries are considered responsible for the country’s key areas and which are focused on policy implementation and population-related matters. He added that PAS would have to take into account the positions and consent of all interested parties when forming a cabinet.
The PAS supporters’ wing among non-Muslims, DHPP, supported Hadi’s position. Its head, BK Kumaresan, said that the organization has no objections to such an approach in a Muslim-majority country and believes that a PAS government would be fair to all racial groups.
PAS holds 43 of the 222 seats in Malaysia’s parliament and is the largest individual party in the opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional.
