SHAH ALAM: Pas and Perikatan Nasional (PN) top leadership have been urged to emulate the formula adopted by the coalition in Kedah in an effort to make the opposition pact more appealing to all people including non-Muslims in the country.
The calls made by (Pas) Bandar Baharu state assemblyman Professor Dr Suffian Yusoff came on the heels of the statement made by party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang that the Islamist party needs to do more to win the support of non-Muslims despite PN's performance during the 15th general election (GE15) last year and the six state elections in August this year.
"The popularity votes secured by PN in Kedah, which is led by Pas, increased significantly during the state elections in comparison to GE15.
"We won 33 seats (of the total 36 seats in Kedah) during the state election. Candidates fielded by PN (in Kedah) also defeated top leaders in Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional. Our candidates also defeated a DAP candidate in the Derga state seat.
"The success of Kedah PN and Pas does not stop there. The composition of the state cabinet also included a state assemblyman from Gerakan, which reflected the true spirit of PN," Suffian, who is a Pas delegate from Kedah, said when debating the party's president's policy speech at Pas' 69th Muktamar (general assembly) here today.
He added that he hoped the formula implemented by Kedah PN could be adopted by the coalition throughout the country in the next general election.
"As we all know, the (ratio of) composition of people in Kedah is almost similar to that of the country.
"I hope the formula used by Kedah PN could be applied (to all other states in the country) in our effort to win the next general election.
"Nevertheless, such an effort requires cooperation, contribution and sacrifice from all," he said.
In his policy speech yesterday (Friday) Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang admitted that the Islamist party needed to do more to win the support of non-Muslim voters.
The Pas president said this required special attention and had to be addressed in the upcoming elections.