Malaysia's Islamist party gives nod to non-Muslim candidates

Kota Baru, Jun 12 (ANI): The Parti Islam SeMalaysia, an Islamist political party in Malaysia, has said that non-Muslims can also stand as its candidates in national elections in the future.

Pas president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party's highest decision-making body, the Majlis Syura Ulama, or the ulama consultative council had approved the new rule.

"There is no need for us to amend the party's constitution for such a move to be implemented," The New Straits Times quoted him, as saying.

Hadi said non-Muslim candidates would likely be fielded in constituencies where the majority of voters were non-Malays.

He added that Pas' choice of non-Muslims to contest would not overlap with candidacy from either DAP or Parti Keadilan Nasional.

"We will keep to our understanding with our Pakatan Rakyat partners that all seats will only be contested on a straight-fight basis against Barisan Nasional,' Hadi said.

He said the non-Muslims who would be fielded as Pas candidates must first accept the party's policy, besides being individuals of high moral values.

Hadi dismissed suggestions that it was merely a political ploy to woo non-Muslims to fulfill Pas' political ambitions. (ANI)