The quote that opens this piece is chilling for a variety of reasons. The first is the implication that Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz enabled the kind of online toxic behaviour that seeks to divide us as a society in the name of religion.

The second is that it inadvertently encourages snitching within the community. Nothing is ever enough to satisfy the delusionally self-righteous.

But remember, encouraging people to report any kind of supposed infraction against the religion of the state or even majoritarian preoccupations is something that the state has always enabled.

This is exactly the kind of behaviour which Hadi believes is the solution needed for this country.

Analyst Bridget Welsh did a great piece about the party’s great expectations, and I would humbly add that another reason for the political rise of PAS has been the way Madani has normalised many of PAS’ religious preoccupations.

An argument could be made that what Madani is doing is making it easier for PAS to engineer a theocratic state. We are not dealing with differing political ideologies here.

What Muslim disunity has achieved is the suppression and dismantling of progressive ideas and personalities in the majority community.

The enabler

Indeed, Madani has been doing PAS’ job of demonising progressive voices in the Malay-Muslim community.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim went so far as to contend that two forces were dividing this country - Islamophobes and those carrying an interpretation of Islam filled with hatred.

Last year, when there was a possibility that Madani would place Islamic Development Department (Jakim) officers in government agencies, this is what PAS said about the interfaith group, which raised concerns about this issue and the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355).

“In both oppositions, the group clearly shows its Islamophobia, where every step taken to strengthen Islam in the country is construed as a threat to the rights and liberties of the non-Muslims.

“PAS sees the MCCBCHST’s (the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism) stance as having serious repercussions and as a challenge to Muslims’ right to practise their religion.”

So, reading what PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said last year, does it really matter if PAS accepts non-Muslims as non-voting members?

Take the Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill 2024, for instance, that Madani seems so intent on. Last year, Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa of the Islamic Renaissance Front made an important point about this bill.

“The most damning aspect of this bill is its categorisation of Islam under Article 4. This article is the most un-Islamic of all; it tries to portray Islam as a very exclusive religion belonging solely to those who subscribe to this definition.

“Indeed, it is against the spirit of inclusivity in Islam wherein God reminds us: All believers are but brethren (Surah al-Hujūrat; 49:10).”

Of course, the traditionalist muftis nationwide - with the exception of Perlis - supported this bill since this is the way they want Muslims in Malaysia to practise their religion - to blindly follow the mazhab (denomination) without questioning the nass (scriptural evidence).

And this is what PAS and state narratives are promulgating - following without questioning.

PAS gets to claim that their Islam is more powerful because they have demonstrated their will to turn the states they rule into a theocracy or as near to it as possible.

While Hadi may demur about leadership positions, he has already set the blueprint for the kind of leaders PAS will rely on.

He has openly defied the Terengganu ruler's diktats of not preaching in mosques.

In 2023, Hadi declared that PAS will act if the Harapan government does not uphold and defend Islam and its laws.

“I am warning the Harapan government because this affects Islam, Allah and royalty.

“I am reminding the government to treat the matter with caution. If Harapan does not want to act (on matters that threaten Islam), we (Perikatan Nasional) will act. How do we act? Wait and see,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat.

Weak resistance from rational leaders

Unlike political scientist Wong Chin Huat, I have a pessimistic view of the future of non-Muslims in this country. Most people have no interest in the rational prescriptions he writes, preferring instead partisan politics.

Over the decades, I have seen honest politicians kowtow to the pragmatism of the social contract and be enriched by the perks of compromised political power.

In the end, all rational people will be doing is feebly resisting and continuing to build this country until it goes against the sensitivities of the majority.

The only lesson here is that PAS is playing the long game and winning.