PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has labelled four Malay leaders from DAP as “unlearned” after they criticised his recent writings, accusing him of exploiting Islam for political interests rather than presenting an academic discussion.
The four are DAP vice-chairman Syahredzan Johan, assistant publicity secretary Young Syefura Othman, Central Executive Committee member Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali and Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid.
“(They are) Malays who have not studied. Not studied,” Abdul Hadi said briefly when met after delivering a Dhuha lecture at Rusila Mosque here on Friday.
The criticism centred on Abdul Hadi’s latest article in his Minda Presiden PAS column, titled The Islamic State And Its Relations With Non-Muslims.
The four DAP leaders had questioned Abdul Hadi’s position, particularly his criticism of DAP despite PAS having previously worked with the party under the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.
In his article, Abdul Hadi also described secularism as a deviant ideology introduced by colonial powers and alleged that it continued to be promoted subtly through media outlets supporting DAP.
Responding to the criticism, Abdul Hadi maintained that his arguments were based on the Quran, hadith, DAP’s constitution and written official statements issued by the party’s leaders.
“What I say is well-founded, based on the Quran and hadith. I write based on the Quran and hadith, and I refer to what is stated in DAP’s constitution and the written statements of its leaders,” he said.
On PAS’ former cooperation with Pakatan Rakyat, the Marang MP said any political alliance entered into by PAS had always been subject to strict conditions, including a requirement that its partners did not oppose the party’s policies.
He said the cooperation eventually collapsed after DAP began openly challenging PAS’ policies and breached the agreed guidelines.
Abdul Hadi cited disagreements over the ban on alcohol sales to Muslims in Kelantan and opposition to amendments under the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, commonly known as RUU 355.
“The ban on alcohol in Kelantan applies only to Muslims, not non-Muslims. As for RUU 355, it is an Islamic law intended for education and to replace corporal punishment with a more corrective approach, but they opposed it,” he said.
Abdul Hadi also claimed that he had previously held discussions with Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, Lim Guan Eng and Tan Seng Giaw.
He said some of them were receptive after the issues were explained, while others were either removed from DAP or reluctant to take a stand due to concerns that they could lose Chinese voters’ support.
