GEORGE TOWN: Pas non-Muslim Supporters Wing (DHPP) is trying to create a positive image of the Islamist party.
Former DAP leader Dr P. Ramasamy, however, said DHPP was in a sad state of affairs and that its non-Muslim members did not have voting rights in the party.
He said DHPP merely had remote tangential attachment to the party.
"The very fact that the DHPP members don't have voting rights speaks volumes of the respect that the Pas leaders have for non-Muslims.
"If Pas lacks the basic decency in respecting the non-Muslim members within the party, then how can Pas convince the non-Malays in the country of its altruistic multi-religious intentions in uniting both Muslims and non-Muslims.
"It doesn't take enemies of Pas to see how the party treats its own non-Muslim members.
"If Pas believes in religious parity, then why are non-Muslims considered as second class citizens in the country?" he said today.
DHHP chairman Balasubramaniam Naciappan, who spoke at Pas' 69th assembly recently, believed that those who were trying to damage the image of Pas were its political enemies.
Balasubramaniam had said that although Pas had Islam as its core focus, there was no intention on the party to divorce itself from the non-Muslims.
He said the creation of DHPP was testimony that Pas wanted to bring Muslims and non-Muslims as one big family.
He also pointed out that despite Pas' administration in Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis, not one Hindu temple was demolished.
Ramasamy said two of his friends visited Kelantan and Terengganu recently on the invitation of Pas leaders.
"Some Pas leaders acknowledged that DHPP doesn't do much in attracting non-Muslim support.
"Most of the time they engage in apple-polishing the Pas leaders.
"These serious-minded Pas leaders are fully aware of their present limitations in attracting non-Muslim support.
"In this respect, the non-Muslim support group is hardly any assistance," he added.
Ramasamy said Balasubramaniam had challenged Pas' enemies to prove whether any temples were demolished under the administration of Pas' state governments.
Ramasamy said Subramaniam might not be aware that two temples — one each in Alor Star and Kulim — were demolished within a six month period a few years ago.
These demolitions took place with the full knowledge of the Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor, he said.
Ramasamy said he was involved with the local Hindu groups in unsuccessfully stopping the demolition in Alor Star.
He added that if Subramaniam was not aware of these demolitions, then obviously he was not updated of these two demolitions.
He said Balasubramaniam could do all the apple polishing he wanted, but at least he should open his eyes and ears to know how non-Muslims think about PAS.
"If Pas wants to be interested in national power, surely the party has to part with its old outmoded thinking. Pas must be prepared to accept diversity if non-Muslim support is essential.
"Rather than looking at others, there is a necessity for Pas and its leadership to seriously examine the party and where it had gone wrong in attracting the support of the non-Muslims.
"DHPP must first ensure that non-Muslims are given the same voting rights as Muslims. Only then, non-Muslim leaders can have the credibility and legitimacy to preach about PAS to others.
"Shouldn't charity begin within Pas before it is extended to others?" he said.