Hadi not fit to be Opposition Leader, claims DAPs Gobind

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PAS acting president Abdul Hadi Awang is not fit to replace the late Fadzil Noor as the Opposition Leader, said DAP publicity secretary Gobind Singh Deo today.

He said Hadi should decline the appointment due to his commitment towards certain ideas which are unacceptable to everyone.

"Hadi (photo) has taken very radical measures as of late, particularly his insistence on hudud laws and proposals of Islamic state," said Gobind in a statement.

"Hadi is entitled to his stand in politics, but to say he has the confidence of the entire opposition sector to serve as leader after what he had publicly done is certainly wrong and unacceptable," he added.

Gobind was responding to a report in a local daily today which said a letter has been sent to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Zahir Ismail nominating Hadi, who is Marang member of Parliament, for the post.

The report said the letter was signed by almost all opposition members of parliament, including those from DAP.

Conflicting views

Gobind's stand on this matter contradicts the views of DAP MPs.

On July 3, DAP vice-president Dr Tan Seng Giaw told the press in parliament that DAP backed the appointment of Hadi because it respected the principle of convention among the opposition in parliament.

He added there was no difference between Hadi and Fadzil although Hadi is seen as a more assertive leader compared to the moderate Fadzil.

A week earlier, despite private reservations, DAP issued a statement saying it supported Hadi as Opposition Leader based on convention that the bearer of the position comes from the party with the most seats.

Last month, the Terengganu state government, led by Hadi, had passed the Hudud Bill which upon implementation will see the use of Islamic criminal laws.

Hadi, who took over the leadership of the party after the death of Fadzil on June 23, is also known as a firebrand leader who aims to set up an Islamic state.

The party's Islamic state ambition was the main reason which led DAP to severe its links with the opposition front, Barisan Alternatif, last year.



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