Pas breaks own taboo! - guys, read this!

"Islam untuk semua..
Pas untuk semua..
Indahnya bersama Islam"

http://www.nst. com.my/Current_ News/NST/Thursday/Frontpage/20080221190159/ Article/index_ html

ELECTION 2008: Pas breaks own taboo to field first non-Muslim candidate
By : Syed Umar Ariff

JOHOR BARU, Thurs:

Kumutha Rahman looked nervous as pressmen, armed with notebooks and recorders, jostled through the crowd for an interview with her. The 29-year-old law graduate, who had just been named as the first non-Muslim candidate to be fielded by Pas, listened attentively to the questions hurled at her when Johor Pas announced their candidates at their headquarters in Batu Pahat.

KUMUTHA Rahman looked nervous as pressmen, armed with notebooks and recorders, jostled through the crowd for an interview with her.The 29-year-old law graduate, who had just been named as the first non-Muslim candidate to be fielded by Pas, listened attentively to the questions hurled at her when Johor Pas announced their candidates at their headquarters in Batu Pahat.

She is contesting the Tiram state seat. But knowing the realities perhaps, Pas is fielding her under the Parti Keadilan Rakyat symbol based on the electoral pact the two parties have entered into.

Still, is she in for a culture shock? Will she be able to speak the language of Pas where Arabic phrases and Quranic verses matter most? Will she have to physically cover herself more than ever?

“I know I won’t feel alienated because I believe voters nowadays are open-minded,” she said. “I also know that Muslims and non-Muslims will be able to accept me.”
A member of the one-month old Unity Bureau under the Johor non-Muslim Pas Supporters Club, Kumutha may be oblivious to the fact that she had broken the conservative Islamic party's 61-year-old tradition of only fielding Muslims as candidates.

“I joined the club because I see that Pas is not bent on racialism. To me all races be they Malays, Chinese or Indians are all the same.”

Making the announcement was Johor Pas commissioner Datuk Mahfodz Mohamed, returning to contest for the Bukit Serampang state seat, said the move signified Pas’ tolerance towards other races.

"We want everyone to know that Pas is not only restricted to Muslims. Even non-Muslims are welcomed in Pas,” he said. “That is why we have the Pas Supporters Club. Kumutha's candidacy is a proof of that ideal."

Pas will contest 34 state seats and nine parliamentary seats. The party had lost in all 37 state seats and 11 parliamentary constituencies it contested in the last general election. This time around, fresh faces made-up one-third of the candidates and none of the Pas Women’s wing leaders.

Kumutha is contesting the Tiram state seat but would bear Parti Keadilan Rakyat's flag.

Ostensibly, the Johor Baru lass candidacy is to woo support for the Islamist party from non-Muslim voters in Tiram, especially the Indian vote which comprises 14.39 per cent of that area’s voters.

However, even during the announcement there were murmurs of uncertainty heard amidst the applause following Kumutha's nomination.

The Tiram constituency is a Barisan Nasional stronghold. In the 2004 election, BN's Maulizan Bujang beat Pas' Roslani Sharif, by a margin of 15,595 votes and the coalition us expected to repeat the feat.

Comments (14)

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written by geddemtata, February 21, 2008 | 21:10:11

saya sokong tindakan Pas, berdoalah agar PAS menang....saya pun undi pas....
Votes: +23

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written by cruzeiro, February 21, 2008 | 21:29:18

Fantastic, PAS!
But did you say non-muslim?
And her name is Kumutha RAHMAN?
Will the NRD allow a non-Muslim to have this name?
Votes: +2

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written by cble, February 21, 2008 | 21:46:14

Buat pemilu kali ini kita jangan peduli samada calon itu Islam atau tidak. Apa yang perlu, kita tolak lambang DACING
Votes: +5

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written by Flex Tan, February 21, 2008 | 22:03:35

WITH A NAME "Rahman" AND A TITLE "first non-Muslim candidate " ... ISN'T THIS CONTRADICTORY ???
Votes: -2

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written by temenggong, February 21, 2008 | 22:11:15

Who is she? Is she an Indian? A non-muslim?

Why didn't Pas pick one of the Hindraf 5? That would have been spectacular! Votes: -1

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written by datnari, February 21, 2008 | 22:20:36

Although her name is spelt RAHMAN, i would think that it was meant to read as RAMAN, which is a typical indian name.

My guess is that the idiots at the NRD got the spelling wrong when her parents registered her birth cert back those days. This kindda mistakes was prevalent amongst the NRD offices of the 60s and 70s, and no attempt was made to correct the erros as those days they used to hand-write the birth certificates. What is written, is written!!!
Votes: +2

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written by susu, February 21, 2008 | 22:37:57

its miracle and the unthinkable has happened. The pas leaders show that they are now very open and do listen to the people. Umno, i guess is now shivering to death. How are they going to counter this?

Nevermind if ms rahman loses this GE, but this wind of change is what matters most.

report abuse

Votes: +4

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written by Lim Lim, February 21, 2008 | 22:53:04

good thinking n good move,pas!!myfriends n me who are nonpartisan shall give our votes to pas in our constituency against umno/BN on 8-3-2008.vote Barisan Rakyat n hidup rakyat!!

report abuse

Votes: +3

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written by aiyomanaboleh, February 21, 2008 | 22:54:13

I am a happier man today than I was yesterday.

report abuse

Votes: +1

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written by The dragonheart, February 21, 2008 | 23:00:25

Still, is she in for a culture shock? Will she be able to speak the language of Pas where Arabic phrases and Quranic verses matter most? Will she have to physically cover herself more than ever?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Hey, is this a big issue?... tell me how many Malay Muslims really knows Arabic phrases and Quranic verses? U don't have to be Russian to know Russian Law...
Votes: +2

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written by Ananth, February 21, 2008 | 23:33:08

This is the most shocking and surprising news i ever heard in Malaysia Today.
a non-muslim in PAS and its an Indian!!!!!
Hopefully Malay brothers and sisters.
Kepada Parti PAS & PKR saya amat menghargai dgn keputusan anda..
BR U r Elected
and
BN U r FIRED!!!!!
Votes: +4

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written by Ananth, February 21, 2008 | 23:34:41

sorry i miss the quote
Hopefully more MALAY brothers and sisters supports this
Votes: +0

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written by idham, February 21, 2008 | 23:44:14

Does not matter...most important ...deny BN 2/3!
Choose checks & balances.
Votes: +4

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written by hiro, February 22, 2008 | 00:09:54

Thank you PAS. As long as you say what you mean and keep on this principle, you will be a force to reckon with in the future. Look beyond this elections. The opposition may or may not do well. But in the long term, as long as there is solidarity, the opposition can and will do well. I've previously mentioned that the biggest stumbling block to opposition unity is the Islamic State issue. It's a breath of fresh air that PAS is prepared to listen, and even take the risk not to raise the spectre of Islamic State again.

This message needs to be spread far and wide. It is a potent weapon that BN does not seem to catch on yet - they have no idea how much this could do damage to their henceforth almost exclusive hold on "multi-racial" politics, even if it is only in form and not in substance.
Votes: +1