Selangor Gerakan chief Henry Teoh said he hoped the slogan would counter negative perceptions among non-Malay voters about the party’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) ally.

Speaking to FMT, Teoh said it was not PAS’s fault that it had been given labels such as “extremist” and “conservative”.

“Sometimes, it’s not that non-Muslims are afraid of PAS, but they are influenced by DAP. They (DAP) make unfounded claims (against PAS),” he said.

“Gerakan has no problem (with the slogan). We hope the slogan for all races and religions can eliminate negative perceptions about PAS.”

Teoh was commenting on an FMT report quoting political analyst Azmi Hassan from Akademi Nusantara as saying the “PAS for All” slogan would only cause fear among non-Malay voters towards the party.

Last Sunday, Selangor PAS information chief Zurk Ahmad said the party hoped its “PAS for All” campaign, which was last used two decades ago, would help it clinch Selangor at the next general election.

The current Selangor government is run by Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, which together hold 34 of the 56 seats in the state assembly.

Last October, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the party must work on winning over non-Malay voters at the 16th general election, after successfully gaining Malay support.

Describing it as an “important and challenging” responsibility, Hadi also called on Gerakan to do more as a member of the opposition coalition to woo non-Muslim support, in particular to explain the benefits of a PN administration.

“The responsibility of attracting non-Muslim support and explaining to them that justice and harmony would be guaranteed under PN rule must be carried out, especially by our friends in Gerakan,” he said.