Has PAS abandoned its inclusive Islamist principles for Malay identity politics?

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PAS's shift from inclusive Islam to Malay identity politics questioned

Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) has raised concerns that PAS may be abandoning its inclusive Islamist principles in favour of Malay identity politics, particularly following PAS's agreement to work with the Malay rights group Perkasa. Amanah's strategy director, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, stated that PAS appears to be shifting from its previous stance as an inclusive Islamist party towards a more right-leaning position, where its Islamic image is being merged with a distinct Malay identity. This move is seen as problematic, especially given that PAS has previously articulated opposition to racism, a sentiment that Amanah argues is fundamentally against Islamic teachings.
PAS's evolving political alignment

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Amanah's strategy director, articulated that PAS has undergone a discernible transformation. He posited that the party has moved away from its earlier commitment to inclusivity, a characteristic of an inclusive Islamist party, and is now leaning towards the right. This shift, according to Dzulkefly, involves a conscious effort to intertwine PAS's Islamic identity with a more pronounced Malay identity. He specifically highlighted that embracing organisations like Perkasa, which he described as advocating for racial politics, contradicts Islamic principles.
Concerns over cooperation with Perkasa

The core of Amanah's critique lies in PAS's decision to engage with Perkasa, a group known for championing Malay interests and described as controversial and right-leaning. While PAS and Perkasa announced a working relationship focusing on three specific issues – the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy, detentions under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA), and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) – Amanah views the underlying principle of cooperation as the primary concern. Dr Dzulkefly emphasised that the issue is not necessarily the specific matters agreed upon, but PAS's willingness to align with an organisation that promotes racial politics and an ethnic-based ideology, which he considers problematic and regrettable for a party that has historically spoken out against racism.
Clarification on the nature of the cooperation

Following the announcement of the working relationship, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s political secretary, Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, provided a clarification. Samsuri stated that PAS had not entered into a "formal cooperation" with Perkasa. Instead, he explained, the Islamist party had merely "agreed" on the three specific issues that were highlighted. This distinction suggests that while there is an alignment of views on these particular matters, it may not represent a comprehensive or institutionalised partnership between the two entities.
Perkasa's controversial background

Perkasa itself is identified as a right-leaning group that actively champions Malay interests, though it has been subject to controversy. Past reports have cited its president, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, allegedly threatening in 2013 to burn Malay-language bibles that contained the word “Allah,” the Arabic term for God. This background contributes to the concern expressed by Amanah regarding PAS's decision to work with such an organisation, particularly in the context of its own historical stance against racism.

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Has PAS abandoned its inclusive Islamist principles for Malay identity politics?

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