PAS eases up on Islamic state ahead

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said it was not time yet to implement an Islamic state.

Also, in the Quran there was no mention about an Islamic state, but there was a mention of welfare state, he told a press conference after opening the 57th PAS Muktamar at PAS premises in Taman Melewar on Friday.

“Under the welfare state concept we have to be kind to all - humans, animals, and the environment.

“In line with the Islamic concept, we will ensure the rakyat are not burdened.

“Some governments offer free healthcare and education. That should be the way.

“Also the electricity and water tariff should not be raised to the point of burdening the rakyat.

“The high cost of goods also pose a burden on the rakyat,” he said, adding PAS would focus on propagating good governance according to the Islamic principles.

PAS would also continue supporting the special privilege of the Malays and the bumiputra, the bulk of whom were poor, he said.

But the plight of the poor non-Malays must also be looked into, he said.

Hadi said PAS would continue garnering non-Muslim support, adding they faced a problem reaching out to the rural areas where the community had no access to alternative news.

Comments

The leaders of PAS began to understand the needs for unity among the Pakatan Rakyat (PR), thus, the leaders of PAS has put aside the dream of Islamic State but turn to Welfare State. The Welfare State as described by the PAS leader above seems like a good policy for the people. However, whether Welfare State includes the Laws of Islam which is strongly stressed in the dream for Islamic State, will need to depend on how the implementation after PR become government.

The implementation of Islamic State is not easy as Malaysia consists of different races with different religion. It is difficult for non-muslim to accept the dream of Islamic State. Thus, the leaders try to change it to Welfare State, which is more acceptable to all the people.

How PAS is going to implement it? We'll see.