00:00Political analysts have dismissed PAS' proposal to grant autonomy to its East Malaysian chapters,
00:08saying it will not improve the party's negative image in Sabah and Sarawak.
00:13National Council of Professors fellow Azmi Hassan said PAS' extreme rhetoric has led to
00:19a negative perception of the party in East Malaysia, which it will find difficult to dispel.
00:25He said parties in Sabah and Sarawak tend to prioritise their respective states' best
00:30interests, particularly regarding their rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
00:37Azmi said PAS' attempt to create the perception that its chapters in Sabah and Sarawak are making
00:42their own decisions would not make a difference due to the party's extreme religious rhetoric
00:48and ideology. On Wednesday, PAS Deputy President Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man
00:53said the party needs a different approach to win support among East Malaysian voters,
00:58suggesting the party look beyond the existing political framework
01:01and build consensuses with NGOs and other groups.
01:05University of Tasmania's James Chin dismissed Tuan Ibrahim's suggestion as impossible to
01:11implement as non-Muslims would not want to align themselves with PAS' fundamental aim
01:16of turning Malaysia into an Islamic state. Chin said PAS would need help from local
01:22political parties to win over voters in East Malaysia,
01:26but with few supporters in the region, such alliances are unrealistic.
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