KLANG: Perikatan Nasional is going all out to woo the non-Malays, says Selangor PAS secretary Roslan Shahir.
He added that the response Perikatan was getting from the non-Malays in Selangor currently was better than during the 15th General Election last year.
“That is why we will have special programmes to reach out to the non-Malays, especially the Indians, as we see strong support for Perikatan from the community," said Roslan.
He added that Perikatan acknowledged the fact that the Indians were the kingmakers in states like Selangor.
According to Roslan, PAS Supporters Club, which is the non-Muslim wing of the Islamist party, will also be assigned to carry out outreach programmes.
“Supporters club members will be mobilised to speak with the non-Muslim voters on what Perikatan has to offer them," he added.
Selangor PAS Supporters Club chief Datuk K. Deepakaran concurred that Indian support for Perikatan has increased after GE15.
"We can see this from the increase of almost 300 new Indian members in our club over the last few months," said Deepakaran.
He said most of the Indians who had joined the PAS supporters club were from B40 families that lauded the Islamist party's proposed control over gambling and the sale of alcohol.
"There are so many B40 families that are suffering and some have even been financially ruined because of alcoholism and gambling.
"They know that both need to be curtailed for poor Indian families to achieve upward social mobility," he added.
According to Deepakaran, the Indian community in Selangor was also somewhat disappointed with the current state administration.
"They feel their needs have not been addressed and they are still in the same situation that they were in five years ago," he said.
He added this anger and disappointment will also translate into support and votes for Perikatan.
