Kumutha Rahman
Encyclopedia
Kumutha Rahman is a Malaysian politician who is a member of the PAS
Supporters Club, a club started by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) for its non-Muslim
supporters. PAS, by virtue of the party's constitution, admits only Muslims as its members. The setting up of the Supporters Club was seen as a small step to open up the membership of the party to non-Muslims who share its ideology and beliefs.
Kumutha is a Hindu
and the first non-Muslim to contest for PAS. However she contested under the Parti Keadilan Rakyat
(PKR) ticket as the PAS constitution did not allow non-Muslims to contests using its ticket. This was done under a special arrangement with PKR for the 2008 Malaysian general elections
. This was an experiment of sorts for PAS as they were opening up their party struggles to non-Muslims and Kumutha was seen as paving the way for a new sort of politics for the Muslim
party.
Kumutha was also Johor
state PAS sole female candidate to contest a state seat in the 2008 Malaysian general elections
. She contested the Tiram state seat. Kumutha is chief of the Johor PAS Supporters Club's women division.
“Education and medical needs will be among the issues I will focus on,” said Kumutha when campaigning for the elections. She added that she would fight for the rights of all races, especially for the abolishment of racial quotas to enter local universities and for free medical services for the poor.
Kumutha, who holds a law degree from Britain, works as bank officer.
PAS (political party)
The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party commonly known as PAS or Pas, is an Islamist political party in Malaysia and is currently headed by Dato' Seri Abdul Hadi Awang...
Supporters Club, a club started by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) for its non-Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
supporters. PAS, by virtue of the party's constitution, admits only Muslims as its members. The setting up of the Supporters Club was seen as a small step to open up the membership of the party to non-Muslims who share its ideology and beliefs.
Kumutha is a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
and the first non-Muslim to contest for PAS. However she contested under the Parti Keadilan Rakyat
Parti Keadilan Rakyat
The People's Justice Party , often known simply as KeADILan) is a centrist political party in Malaysia formed in 2003 by a merger of the National Justice Party and the older Malaysian People's Party...
(PKR) ticket as the PAS constitution did not allow non-Muslims to contests using its ticket. This was done under a special arrangement with PKR for the 2008 Malaysian general elections
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
. This was an experiment of sorts for PAS as they were opening up their party struggles to non-Muslims and Kumutha was seen as paving the way for a new sort of politics for the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
party.
Kumutha was also Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
state PAS sole female candidate to contest a state seat in the 2008 Malaysian general elections
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
. She contested the Tiram state seat. Kumutha is chief of the Johor PAS Supporters Club's women division.
“Education and medical needs will be among the issues I will focus on,” said Kumutha when campaigning for the elections. She added that she would fight for the rights of all races, especially for the abolishment of racial quotas to enter local universities and for free medical services for the poor.
Kumutha, who holds a law degree from Britain, works as bank officer.
External links
- USA Cruise Log USA Today - February 29, 2008
- Malaysian Hindu woman embraces Islamic party Reuters - February 29, 2008
- PAS to field non-Muslim under PKR ticket, The Star, February 23, 2008.