OLD il-bloop !

One has to praise the flexibility of PAS in adapting to Malaysian political reality and social development. In the 1982 election, 78 percent of PAS manifesto contents were about Islam. The leadership change from Malay nationalists to Islamists later that year marked the beginning of concerted efforts to reduce exclusiveness of its appeal. In the last election, PAS finally revived the old tradition of nominating women candidates. One year after the ascension of the ‘young moderate professionals’ headed by Ustaz Nasharuddin Mat Isa, this year’s muktamar, beginning today, will see another step forward - opening of the door to non-Muslims, a proposal coming from PAS spiritual adviser, Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

...PAS must change its lukewarm attitude to democracy and commit itself to push for Malaysia’s democratisation...If PAS is expecting democrats to vote intrinsically for its programme, rather than instrumentally, just to check Umno’s hegemony (if they would), it must make genuine efforts to democratise Malaysia.