Speaking to FMT, Balachandran said the wing must therefore be strengthened not merely as a political support platform, but also as a bridge for national unity and greater interracial understanding.

According to him, DHPP should play a more progressive role by focusing on public outreach and resolving people’s issues, rather than engaging in politics of personal attacks, so that non-Malay communities would be more drawn to PAS and Perikatan Nasional.

“This marks the beginning of a new chapter of mature multiracial politics within PAS and Malaysia,” he said, referring to the wing’s success in holding its first annual general meeting yesterday.

DHPP was made an associate wing in September last year, giving it equal standing with the party’s ulama, women’s and youth wings. More than 10,000 non-Muslims are PAS members through this wing.

At the AGM, B Kumaresan, special officer to Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor, was elected DHPP chief, replacing N Balasubramaniam, who did not defend the post to make way for a new face.

Meanwhile, Lim Guan Seng, who is also special officer to Kelantan menteri besar Nassuruddin Daud, was elected unopposed as deputy chief.

Balachandran also said the wing’s main focus now is to produce leaders and candidates who are acceptable to the people and capable of winning elections, rather than focusing on the number of seats to contest.

“Our focus is on identifying winnable candidates, not how many seats we want to contest.

“As for the number of seats DHPP will contest, that will be left to the top leadership to decide. We are not chasing positions or seats,” he said.