KUCHING: PAS will be shown the exit door in the coming parliamentary election, like what the party faced during the last state election.
This is because multi-ethnic and multi-religious Sarawakians will not accept the party as its struggle is to establish an Islamic state, said Youth Development Assistant Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said it was also because the derogatory remark made by PAS president Datuk Seri Ustaz Hadi Awang on the ‘cawat’ issue after Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lost the Batang Ai by-election in April 7, 2009 was still fresh in the minds of the people in the state.
At that time, Hadi had said PR lost the by-election because Sarawakians and especially the Dayaks were still backward and did not know how to vote properly because they were still wearing ‘cawat’ or loin cloth.
Abdul Karim said the ‘cawat’ remark still hurt Sarawakians until today, and despite that there had been no attempt by Hadi to apologise or withdraw the malicious and derogatory statement in spite of several requests by many quarters.
Having said that, Abdul Karim said since Malaysia practised parliamentary democracy any registered political party could contest anywhere they wished.
“PAS is free to contest anywhere they wish or place any ethnic race as candidate but Sarawakians will show them the door when the time comes, like what we did in the last state election,” Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Housing Minister said.
Meanwhile, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Masing said only time would tell if PAS would really put up an Iban candidate for the seat.
“Whether PAS’ seriousness in putting an Iban candidate will bear fruit or not, only time will tell.
“To date, PAS hasn’t been lucky in their attempt to get a political foothold in Sarawak,” the Senior Minister and Land Development Minister said via SMS yesterday.