KUALA SELANGOR, June 8 — PAS has found new appreciation for its supporters wing as an avenue to court non-Muslim votes, which it must now attempt on its own after choosing to sever ties with Pakatan Rakyat ally DAP.

This was evident in its 61^st muktamar, or annual congress that ended on Saturday, where several PAS top leaders sang the praises of the PAS Supporters Congress (DHPP) for staying steadfast with the party’s struggles and compared the wing’s “unparalleled” loyalty to that of DAP, especially in issues relating to hudud.

So impressed was PAS Ulama wing chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamad that, during his winding up speech, he suggested making DHPP members their “hudud ambassadors” to to dispel negative perception about the Islamic penal code.

“Previously we were the one who gave tarbiyah to them, but now they are giving tarbiyah to us,” Mahfodz said of DHPP, using the Arabic word which roughly means “indoctrination”.

“I have heard how in her speech, the DHPP Wanita chief Kumutha (Raman) spoke about abstaining from gambling and consuming alcohol … Next time we call her to explain and support hudud, not Lim Kit Siang.”

DAP parliamentary leader Lim was recently vilified by some in PAS after he cautioned against implementing hudud, during a guest speaking appearance at an event organised by Kota Baru PAS last month.

“Don’t be ashamed, as though we are the guilty one, when were are talking about Islam. Worried that non-Muslims will not support us,” Temerloh MP Nasruddin Hassan said while representing the Ulama wing in the muktamar.

“God willing, the Ulama wing will bring PAS closer to our youngest brother DHPP.”

Can ulama and a non-Muslim wing gel together?

The 4,000-strong DHPP started off as the PAS Supporters Club prior to the 2008 general election, and was later upgraded to its current wing status in 2010.

Under current chairman N. Balasubramaniam, the DHPP has thrown its support behind hudud, which it claimed should not be questioned and interfered with by non-Muslims as it involves Islamic principles and was only aimed at the country’s largest population.

“Look at countries which have already implemented hudud … Saudi Arabia and Brunei for example. It really is so peaceful there. Wouldn’t it be nice if we have it here too?” Balasubramaniam asked Malay Mail Online on the sidelines of the muktamar.

“Look at girls here now … getting raped every day. Do we need this? Law is in place to curb this, so that is what hudud is going to do.

“Why must we be scared? I am supporting this fully. Hudud is definitely not going to clash with Hinduism,” he claimed.

Ever since the so-called progressives were wiped out in the party elections this week, concerns have been raised about whether the party can still connect effectively with non-Muslim voters.

Chief among this is the tendency of the ultra-conservative clergy faction to make accusatory remarks against non-Muslims.

This was demonstrated by a remark from newly-elected deputy chief of the Ulama wing, Datuk Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh, who, on Wednesday, blamed the spread of Christianity among the ethnic Chinese for the alleged increase in anti-Islam sentiments.

Balasubramaniam also defended this.

“He is not insulting or hurting anybody, but merely calling for unity in PAS. I did clarify with Nik Zawawi on what he said, but he responded that he only made the remark because such thing is happening and that PAS should be steadfast in its stand,” said the businessman.

“Ulamas are people who are deeply rooted in faith … For them it is important to always do good and I am confident that we will be cared for well. Because they rely on religious teachings of Islam and not racism.”

DHPP still the ugly duckling

Despite all the cooing by PAS leaders and its ulama, there are still questions over whether DHPP will remain as a window dressing for the Islamist party and just another tool for PAS to show it can survive without DAP.

Since the start, DHPP has been demanding treatment equal to other PAS wings, as its delegates have yet to be given the rights to vote in the party.

The issue was raised almost every year to deaf ears, and this year DHPP information chief Asokan Promal again urged PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to accord them voting rights and not treat them as mere observers.

“We are used as ‘Touch n Go’ … we’re not ‘Touch n Go, we are PAS’ assets, we are DHPP. Do give us the due respect and don’t abandon us just like that,” Asokan said, referring to the prepaid cash card used by Malaysians.

“Why are we always being abandoned? Last year in Johor, the Johor DHPP Wanita head had asked to be able to vote in the muktamar this year, but until today, there is nothing done pertaining to the request.”

On Saturday, PAS approved a motion to stay in PR but cut ties with DAP without debate, but secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali insisted this still needs the endorsement of its advisory Syura Council.

The decision, however, has cemented fears that PR is on the brink of dissolution, with consequences mostly felt in Selangor where the legislative assembly would be hung if either PAS or the DAP leaves the PR administration.

PAS had made inroads with non-Muslim voters by banding together with PKR and DAP in 2008, which saw the group supporting the Islamist party during its campaign and voting for its candidates during Election 2013 the popular vote victory.