Not time yet to abandon Islamic state: Hadi
It is not time yet to abandon the aspirations of PAS to turn the nation into an ‘Islamic state’, its president Abdul Hadi Awang said today.
It is not time yet to abandon the aspirations of PAS to turn the nation into an ‘Islamic state’, its president Abdul Hadi Awang said today.
However, he said, what PAS wants is an Islamic state in form, where the welfare of the people is prioritised.
“The time has not come to (abandon the quest for an Islamic state). But we don’t want to just call the country an Islamic state without implementing the principles, there is no point in that.
“In fact, the term in the Quran is ‘welfare state’, nowhere does it say Islamic state,” Hadi told reporters at the party’s 47th annual assembly, the muktamar.
PAS had strongly advocated for an Islamic state in 2004, but following its pact with the Pakatan Rakyat, the party has rebranded this to 'welfare state' .
The matter is still considered a point of contention between PAS and partner party DAP.
Clarifying this, Hadi said the terms ‘Islamic state’ and ‘welfare state’ in fact referred to the same thing.
"It's valid for us to say ‘welfare state’, for this exists in Islam and in other (religions), and we explain this in our common policy," he said.
Insofar as its cooperation with DAP was concerned, he said, PAS acknowledges that it cannot impose Islamic rules on non-Muslims.
"DAP has seen how we work with them. When it's time for prayers, we go and pray, and we stand firm that gambling and alcohol are forbidden.
"But DAP says they can (gamble and consume alcohol), so we cannot stop them, although unlike BN, we don't join them when they consume alcohol.
"It is the right (of non-Muslims), as stated in the Constitution," Hadi said.
On a separate matter, Hadi acknowledged that PAS still needed to work on spreading information, especially to the rural Malay heartland, in the run-up to the general election.
He said that PAS has proven that it can garner Malay votes in areas where voters are better-informed.
"Our target is to continue to get support from all races, not just the Malays," he added.
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