PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said that he would rather go to jail than pay a fine if convicted under the Sedition Act 1948 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 after a speech that purportedly questioned the jurisdiction of the pardons board.
Hadi said it would be better to channel the money to Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam or PASTI, a pre-school run by the Islamic party.
“I’m waiting to be jailed by the court and ready to be punished,” the Marang MP said when debating the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review today (Sept 13).
“I’m not sure whether I will be fined or imprisoned, but between the two, I would rather go to jail. I rather give the money to Pasti instead of paying the fine money.”
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain previously stated that Hadi’s investigation papers regarding his statement disputing the power of the pardon board had already been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) on Sept 7.
Hadi is alleged to have disputed the authority of the pardons board in a talk he gave at the PAS headquarters in Bakri, Muar, on Aug 26.
In the talk, held during a Perikatan Nasional (PN) rally, he is alleged to have discussed the jurisdiction of the pardons board and is said to have claimed the manner in which the country grants pardons to offenders are not in accordance with Islamic teachings.
The PN deputy chairman also took a jab at Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, claiming that in Islam, there is no such thing as a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).
“Those who had faith would be willing to be punished for their mistakes in this lifetime,” he added.
Hadi also cited Islamic history where Sultan Muhammad al-Fateh was punished for abuse of power after oppressing an architect who had gone against his wishes.
The Ru Rendang assemblyman added that the architect then lodged a complaint to a judge, thus proving that separation of powers had existed even since the Ottoman Empire.
“This happened and it proves that there was no DNAA in the Islamic judiciary system (back in the day) and anyone found guilty must be punished,” Hadi remarked.
“In Islam, there are only two concepts of justice – justice in this life and justice in the hereafter. So, even if they pass (the punishment) in this life, they won’t pass the hereafter.
“And only those with faith will be willingly punished in this life.” – Sept 13, 2023
Main pic credit: Facebook/Abdul Hadi Awang
