Corruption is often being used as a political weapon to bring down opponents rather than treated as a wrongdoing that must be prevented, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said.
He said this was evident when enforcement action was taken selectively against political rivals, while alleged misconduct involving those on the same side was overlooked — whether involving those receiving bribes, giving bribes or acting as intermediaries in corrupt dealings.
Abdul Hadi said there was no denying that weaknesses had occurred in the management of public funds and government-linked companies (GLCs), which he described as deeply regrettable.
However, he said such cases should be brought before the courts rather than debated in the media or on political platforms, particularly when they were used as election campaign material to create negative perceptions, citing the Final Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Lembaga Tabung Haji as an example.
“More worrying is that the position of Islam and Muslims is at its most dangerous when under the administration of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, which is dominated by non-Muslim groups and poses a threat to the objectives of Islamic law (maqasid al-shariah),” he said.
Abdul Hadi was speaking during his presidential policy address at the 72nd PAS Annual Muktamar at the Pusat Tarbiah Islamiah Kelantan (PUTIK) in Pengkalan Chepa today.
He said measures aimed at preventing greater harm should be given priority.
Abdul Hadi also said the political approach demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad should serve as an example, describing it as a form of politics grounded in integrity, the rule of law and justice, while rejecting interference driven by vested interests in enforcement processes.
On international relations, Abdul Hadi said PAS believed the government should exercise greater caution while maintaining a firm and neutral position.
He said Malaysia should not allow Southeast Asia to once again become a battleground for major powers or a proxy arena for competing interests.
“The national interest and regional security must be the primary considerations in every foreign policy decision.
“Malaysia must have a principled, independent and sovereign foreign policy without becoming a tool of any major world power,” he said.
