PETALING JAYA: Sabah PAS is open to fielding non-Muslim candidates in the upcoming state election, expected to be held later this year.
Its secretary Sahar Abdul Majid said such nominations would depend on the need and suitability of the constituencies PAS planned to contest under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner.
He said this openness aligned with the party’s long-standing “PAS for All” principle and was not a new move, noting that the party had fielded non-Muslim candidates in the 14th general election (GE14).
“Our non-Muslim supporters’ wing (DHPP) in the Sabah chapter is active, particularly among the Dusun and Chinese communities, with over 1,000 members to date,” he told FMT.
“In 2018, PAS fielded a non-Muslim candidate. This shows that Sabah DHPP plays an important role in garnering support from non-Muslim communities.”
Non-Muslims fielded by PAS in GE14 included farmer Satail Mojungkat for the Kadamaian state seat in Sabah and the late R Kumutha for the Johor Jaya state seat in Johor.
Satail lost to Upko’s Ewon Benedick, who had contested under the Barisan Nasional banner, while Kumutha lost to Pakatan Harapan’s Liow Cai Tung.
Sahar said PAS was confident it could deliver a surprise outcome in the upcoming state election with more structured and strategic preparations, including nominating credible and capable candidates.
“The people of Sabah are showing a growing desire for change and better leadership,” he added.
As for which seats PAS would contest, Sahar said the final decision would be made collectively with other PN component parties.
Previously, PAS confirmed it would contest at least six out of the 73 Sabah state assembly seats.
Sabah PAS commissioner Aliakbar Gulasan is currently one of six assemblymen appointed by the state government after the 2020 state election. PAS did not contest any seat in that election.
