PAS pushes Islamic agenda with eye on next Malaysia election

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) is making moves to consolidate its political power ahead of the next general election, analysts said.

Recent measures, such as mandating halal certification for all food outlets in Kelantan and

endorsing a controversial public caning in Terengganu,

appear to be aimed at bolstering the Islamist party’s image as a staunch defender of syariah law.

These actions contrast with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government, which has faced delays in pushing for a controversial Mufti Bill amid opposition from legal experts and leading figures such as Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin and the Sultan of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.

While these moves could strengthen PAS’ influence in its conservative strongholds, the party risks alienating moderate Malays and non-Muslims, experts say.

“PAS is doing this because they need to shore up support before the next general election,” said Professor James Chin, an Asian studies expert at the University of Tasmania.

“If Anwar can get (the Mufti Bill) done, he will score a major victory over PAS.”

The Bill – which would grant the federal territories’ mufti in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan the power to enshrine religious edicts in law – was tabled for its first reading in Parliament in July 2024. After a lag of months, it is expected to be tabled for a second reading in the next parliamentary session that begins in February.

In Malaysia, Islamic jurisprudence falls under each of its 13 states’ purview, but in the federal territories, it falls under the federal government. The Bill will allow the mufti to propose a fatwa, or religious ruling, to the King and have it gazetted into law without parliamentary debate; the fatwa will then become legally binding on all Muslims who are in the federal territories. Non-Muslims are not affected.

PAS wants to demonstrate its commitment to Islamisation, boosting its image as the “guardian” of Islamic principles, said Universiti Malaya political science professor Awang Azman Pawi.

“It’s a strategic move to win support among Muslim Malays, especially in the east coast,” he said.

PAS has long been a champion of Islamic governance and holds power in the four northern Malay-belt states of Terengganu, Kelantan, Perlis and Kedah, allowing it to implement policies those places aligned with its religious agenda.

In December 2024, Terengganu made headlines with

the public caning of a man convicted of khalwat, or “close proximity”

between an unrelated man and woman in a private space.

The punishment followed an amendment to Terengganu’s syariah laws in 2024, expanding the scope and severity of punishments. The latest caning also highlighted the power of the country’s 13 state legislatures to enact their own laws, as long as the Federal Constitution is not violated.

Terengganu state executive councillor Khalil Hadi defended the decision to carry out the public caning despite objections from concerned citizens and rights groups, asserting that the state government was committed to enhancing syariah law enforcement.

On Dec 26, 2024, the Kelantan state government announced that all food and beverage outlets in the state would be required to obtain halal certification to renew their business licences.

In response, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming stated that local councils lacked the legal authority to impose such requirements.

Timing-wise, experts note that PAS pushing the Islamic agenda coincides with growing tensions within the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, which includes the Islamist party.

PAS and coalition partner Bersatu have clashed in recent weeks over internal leadership roles.

“Bersatu is losing ground to Anwar and Umno, and PAS is holding PN together, but they are in competition for dominance within the coalition,” Prof Chin said.

PAS, with 43 MPs, forms the largest bloc in Parliament but faces keen competition from ally Bersatu, which has 25 seats in the House of Representatives.

In December, PAS leaders were sidelined as Bersatu secured all key positions in PN’s supreme council, with Mr Azmin Ali appointed secretary-general despite PAS’ push for its own, Mr Takiyuddin Hassan, for the role.

Speculation about tensions between the two allies arose after Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar quit as PN treasurer-general, although he denied this was due to a rift in the alliance.

The two parties were also at odds over Bersatu president and former premier Muhyiddin Yassin’s status as PN’s “poster boy” or prime ministerial candidate, as PAS believes itself to be the stronger component party in the opposition alliance.

Meanwhile, speculation is still swirling about PAS joining Datuk Seri Anwar’s unity government.

When Malaysia’s November 2022 General Election

resulted in a hung Parliament,

Mr Anwar eventually formed a government by cobbling together his Pakatan Harapan coalition, the Umno-led Barisan Nasional alliance and some East Malaysian parties.

A deal with PAS could shift the balance of power, but analysts say the chances of such an arrangement are slim unless PAS secures significant concessions, such as removing the Chinese-led Democratic Action Party (DAP) from the unity government.

PAS is also mobilising its base through rallies.

On Jan 3, the party held a protest against alleged threats to Islam, targeting DAP ministers Nga and Hannah Yeoh. This came after Mr Nga criticised PAS for its hostile response to a Christmas celebration at his ministry.

PAS has accused Ms Yeoh, who is Minister of Youth and Sports, of promoting Christianity.

In addition, PAS, which once heavily criticised Najib Razak over the financial scandal tied to Malaysian state fund 1MDB, is preparing for a rally on Jan 6 in support of the jailed former prime minister, in a hitherto inconceivable move.

PAS is now backing Najib in

his appeal over the existence of a royal decree

that would allegedly allow him to serve his prison sentence at home.

Umno supreme council member Nur Jazlan Mohamed slammed PAS’ sudden support for Najib, calling it a move to gain political mileage.

“PAS leaders often speak as if they are representatives of heaven. But for me, PAS is not a ‘political angel’ but more of a ‘political genie’ because they cleverly manipulate religion for their own interests,” he wrote on Facebook on Jan 1.

“Their political fatwas change according to convenience.”

While PAS’ focus on Islamisation may solidify its position among conservative supporters, its future in national politics is unclear.

Political scientist Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said: “PAS will remain a provincial party if it goes down this path. It can kiss its national aspirations goodbye, unless it can convince the Borneo (East Malaysia) coalition members to leave the (Anwar) government to form a new majority coalition with PAS.”