PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang warned yesterday that the people's tolerance with BN/Umno's autocracy and corrupt administration has its limits.

He said that the ruling coalition has corrupted the moral and social fabric of the country and adversely affected its material welfare.

"In order to avoid the wrath of the people, the government has to recognise the people's rights to democracy. The writing's on the wall, and the Barisan Alternatif is prepared to take over the reins of control," he said in his pesidential address to the 49 th PAS general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

Addressing some 2,000 party delegates, members, foreign guests and leaders from non-governmental organisations, Hadi spoke for an hour and a half expressing indignation at the

government's history of failures, harmful policies, and system of government.

Speaking variously at times as an economist, sociologist, philosopher, and moral historian, the newly elected PAS president painted a devastating picture of corruption, blunders, autocracy, and abuse of power.

Corruption

"Umno and BN has become synonymous with corruption," Hadi declared, and brought up various cases of ill-gotten riches and practices of nepotism and cronyism.

"We have seen the (literal) collapse of the Pularek building and a school computer laboratory, the misuse of Employers' Provident Fund money, as well as the Mamingco, BMF, Bank Bumiputra and Perwaja scandals among others," he said.

"Such corrupt practices have resulted in losses of an estimated RM 400 billion. Who is to bear such a cost? Most surely, our children are the ones to witness Umno's inhumanity," Hadi declared.

Quoting a Chinese proverb, "Ikan busuk bermula dari kepala" (The fish rots from the head), he dismissed publicised attempts to crack down on the problem as a case of hunting the small fish while ignoring the sharks, and said the government's attempts to eliminate corruption should start from the top leaders.

The government's economic policies are also reflective of blunders and bad judgement committed by the decision-makers, according to Hadi.

"The national deficit currently standing at 30% of the nation's revenues, the burden of interest by itself will adversely affect this and future generations."

Foreign Direct Investment has deteriorated as a result of outside investors' doubt in the efficacy of

the country's legal institutions, lack of transparency, mismanagement, corruption, and abuse of

power, he added.

Law Enforcement

Law enforcement agencies were also not spared Hadi's attacks.

"Rising crime rates were the result, directly or indirectly, of the Umno/BN''s failure to live up to its claims that Malaysia was an ''Islamic state.''

"Every morning, we are greeted with reports of rape, robbery, murder, bribery, breach of trust and, recently, gangsterism in boarding schools," he said.

"Is all of this a consequence of emulating the example and leadership of the country's leaders, including the character of the former Inspector-General of Police?" he asked.

Education

Turning to education, the PAS chief said the education system was also in need of great repair.

He brought up such issues as the teaching of Maths and Science in English, the cutting of financial support of SAR (people''s religious school), scandals surrounding a number of private colleges, low levels of academic achievement, and a host of other problems.

The root of the problem, he said, was the absence of serious consultation, discussion, and contribution by educators themselves.

Instead, we have the situation where many of the decisions have been made autocratically by Umno supreme council members, Hadi said.

"In spite of all these problems, however, the government was not willing to confront criticisms from opposition parties and NGOs.

"Instead, they have resorted to various tools, constitutional (such as the ISA, OSA, AUKU, and the Printing Presses Act) or otherwise, to restrict and threaten any dissent, he said.

"Umno/BN are in fact more fearful that, without such legal tools, their crimes would be exposed to the courts and the public and they would thus be liable to their judgement," Hadi added.