Softening PAS’s hardline image an uphill task, says analyst

ATTEMPTS to soften PAS’s hardline image are unlikely to succeed, says political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan, who argues that the party’s long-standing reputation as a far-right force remains deeply entrenched.

He said that while Datuk Zaid Ibrahim may be articulate and strategic in his political commentary, attempts to portray PAS as non-extreme are unlikely to gain traction given the party’s longstanding ideological positioning.

“PAS is widely viewed as a right-wing, even far-right political party. That perception is not easily erased, regardless of individual narratives,” Azmi said.

Last Saturday, Zaid said he would repay the trust given to him by the PAS leadership through efforts to change perceptions of the Islamist party as extremist and anti-democratic.

The former law minister was among 15 individuals announced to be joining PAS during a public talk in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

Zaid opined that PAS is the only Malay majority party with the strength and determination to eliminate inequality, hegemony and class-based privilege.

According to him, the essence of Islam would be the main principle in the government that the party was fighting for.

He also expressed confidence that PAS has the potential to govern Malaysia with progressive Members of Parliament who have like-minded views after the upcoming general election.

Meanwhile, Azmi added that Zaid himself, despite currently being outside the mainstream political arena, often adopts strong anti-establishment positions in his writings, particularly in relation to the present government.

Azmi also pointed to Zaid’s shifting political affiliations over the years, saying this has affected the consistency and credibility of his views.

“Zaid is known for moving across multiple political parties, and his positions have not always been consistent.

“This makes it difficult for the public to accept his attempts to recast PAS’s image fully,” he said.

He further argued that more hardline voices within PAS outweigh newer members like Zaid, reinforcing the party’s existing reputation.

“In fact, there are many within PAS whose views are more extreme than Zaid’s. Even Zaid himself can be seen as holding strong views, albeit from a different perspective,” Azmi added. – July 16, 2026