Mysinchew
I went to seven states of Malaysia to participate in the political forum after the general elections in the past few weeks. The significant gain from the forum was not only applause from the audiences but as well the public opinion collected that enabled me to understand the people's thoughts.
When the audience is enthusiastic at asking questions and expressing their opinions by passing down notes or standing in front of the microphone courageously, you will find that the people are really cute.
In fact, the people have a high degree of political awareness and a lot of views are actually different from the past. Most obviously, it would be the view of Chinese on Pas. Chinese no longer think Pas a poisonous snake or a savage beast.
Many people identified the role played by Pas in the elections. They also think Pas is indispensable to Pakatan Rakyat.
Most impressively, the people agreed with the welfare society proposed by Pas and the party's stance on honesty, justice and race relations. It did not mean that they supported Pas, or agree with the party's aim to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state. But the people believed that many ideologies of the party fitted the country's needs as a whole that could become a progressive consensus.
As for the implementation for hudud laws, we cannot see the possibility for its implementation at the moment and in the future, its implementation possibility could be reduced through check and balance.
I would like to say that this is a Chinese's thought transformation.
When Pas became more enlightened and moderate, it was able to gain support from some Malay and non-Muslim voters. Otherwise, if it keeps its rigid dogma and remains conservative like what it did in 2004, it would be cast aside.
This would have to refer back to the remarks made by Pas deputy spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din that said once Pas gains the federal regime, it will amend the Federal Constitution to implement hudud laws.
Such remarks is not surprising as Haron Din belongs to the elder generation of the party, which is more conservative. Meanwhile, the party's pragmatic group and professionals do not seem to agree with him.
Of course, Haron Din does not represent the whole party. His reply to the readers on the website does not necessarily reflect the stand of the party too. Besides, his remarks made on the website might be meant to satisfy the party's loyal supporters.
We must understand that Pas has its own complexity as there are different views, as well as different leadership styles within the party. Pas is still groping for its path.
In all fairness, Pas is an Islamic party because it comes together with religious concepts. What we can see is, it is quite impossible for Pas to deny the concept of Islamic state and most importantly, is whether such concept can be implemented and whether it will be included in the implementation agenda.
Certainly, the Chinese community and other non-Muslims may solemnly tell Pas that our concept is to maintain secular lifestyle, as well as to defend our rights conferred by the Federal Constitution.
We can find common space only through mutual respect. (By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)
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