PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has indicated that he will be tight-lipped about responding to criticism and elaborating on his under-fire claim that non-Bumiputeras and non-Muslims are behind corruption in Malaysia.
“I was already called to Bukit Aman to be questioned and I have answered the questions,” Hadi told reporters on the sidelines of the PAS muktamar. “Anything further, I will answer in court.”
The Marang MP added that he will go in for questioning if the Royal Malaysian Police Force (PDRM) summons him once more, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT).
Separately, Hadi’s ally, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said there was “no need” for people to continue debating on the matter “as there are corrupt non-Muslims and corrupt Muslims”.
“Corruption is quite widespread,” Malaysiakini quoted the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman as saying. “It’s not an issue if they’re Muslim or not, but certain people (are corrupt).”
Last month, Hadi said corruption must be eradicated in a holistic manner, calling it a “disease” and labelling those who commit graft as “sinners”.
He further claimed: “These groups who chase illicit gains are the ones who eventually control the economy. They then damage our politics as they are the roots for corruption, and the majority of them are non-Muslims and non-Bumiputras.”
After much public anger and police reports lodged against Hadi over his inflammatory and unsubstantiated remarks, Bukit Aman’s Classified Crime Investigation Department (CCID) is now probing him on the matter.
Hadi was at Bukit Aman on Tuesday (Aug 30) for questioning under Section 505 (c) of the Penal Code for issuing statements likely to incite the public and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities or services.
“Its own worst enemy”
Meanwhile, DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng said PAS was its “own worst enemy” by refusing to back down from its “political narrative” of blaming and targeting minority non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras for corruption as doing so “threatens” Malay and Muslim political power.
“Led by Hadi, PAS is not ashamed to prove themselves to be extremists and racists but also fail to offer any solution for the country’s economic problems and corruption challenges,” he added in a scathing statement against the party.
The former finance minister claimed that this is why Kelantan has become the poorest state in Peninsular Malaysia after more than 30 years of PAS rule, noting that the Kelantanese even migrate to other states and neighbouring Singapore to seek job opportunities as they are “deprived” of economic opportunities in the state.
Besides its “poor” crisis management of floods, “bad governance” and “inability” to even provide clean piped water to its citizens, PAS has now become “lazy” by taking the easy way out of engaging in “culture” wars, Lim alleged.
This came after the Islamist party went on a rampage against international concerts and the Oktoberfest and Bon Odori cultural festivals, despite them being cultural events and not involving non-Muslims.
“If Barisan Nasional (BN) and PN states follow PAS’ dictates, then concerts, Bon Odori and Oktoberfest events banned in their states are welcome to come and organise their events in Penang,” said the former Penang chief minister.
Separately, Lim said PAS vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah should not be surprised that non-Muslims “have such a negative view” of the party to the point they no longer want to vote for PAS since the party is “oppressive” towards minorities.
He was responding to Mohd Amar’s comments in the PAS muktamar yesterday (Sept 2) where he reportedly said the PAS-led Kedah state Government in Kedah was able to take care of non-Muslims despite its “inexperienced” leaders and there was no oppression of minorities in the state.
Lim also rapped the deputy Kelantan menteri besar for making the simplistic claim that almost 90% of the Chinese in the state rejected PAS candidates “because of DAP”.
He questioned how DAP would be able to influence non-Muslim voters in Kelantan to do so unless they could see for themselves “how racist and extremist PAS is”.
“What is surprising is that there are still 10% of non-Muslims in Kelantan that still support PAS,” Lim noted. “This is unlike during the moderate leadership of PAS’ late spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz, where 90% of non-Muslims in Kelantan supported PAS.” – Sept 3, 2022
