YOURSAY | ‘First and foremost, Muslim leaders must behave like Muslims should.’

Hadi: Muslims must lead, but others need not worry

Commentable: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is only stating the obvious. The Malays (aka Muslims) have not only been taking the lead in Malaysia but also held all core positions in government since day one as an independent nation.

Although this requirement was never mentioned in our Constitution, people of all races respected this fact.

However, it's only when abuses with regards to this role of 'dominance' – one that allowed the country be ruled by "penyanggak, penyamun dan pencuri” (thugs, robbers and thieves) to quote former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad) – that has created huge resentment among the rakyat.

All the talk about ‘kehaibatan’ (prestige) or the "dominant" force will ring hollow when such leadership only resulted in bigger and bigger scams such as the 1MDB scandal, which has been described as the “biggest financial scandal” in the world, not just Malaysia.

Where is the 'kehaibatan' in taking that role then, Hadi?

Léon Moch: Hadi relies on the position of Islam in the Constitution to make these erroneous statements but does not realise that the same Constitution does not allow appointments to public positions based on religion.

Non-Muslims should be very worried indeed based on this Hadi conviction that they (non-Muslims) should not be appointed to certain positions in the country.

Would Hadi take a dose of his own medicine if leaders of another country say Muslims should not hold certain positions in their country merely because they form a minority?

This is the same Hadi who went to Sarawak and told the Muslims there to vote out non-Muslim leaders because Muslims must lead despite the fact that Muslims are a minority there and that Sarawak's constitution does not recognise a state religion.

Justice: Indeed, Hadi, this policy of yours - that the majority shall rule and minorities need not worry - should be applied in Sarawak. Agree?

Godfearing: First and foremost, Muslim leaders must behave like Muslims should. It's obvious that they don't everywhere, Malaysia included, although there are perhaps extremely rare exceptions.

The truth is that nearly everything they do flies in the face of Islamic values. They are prone to corruption, stealing billions, lying through their teeth, bribing the very institutions that are supposed to uphold law and justice, incarcerating the innocent and protecting the guilty.

None of them nowadays emulate the spirit of the Madinah Constitution proclaimed and practised by the great Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him).

They plunder with impunity as though they are above the law. Nor do they fear God. Do such leaders deserve the leadership role that Hadi is talking about?

Non-Evader: Hadi, what you meant is that ‘dominance’ and ‘numerical majority’ are the only criteria to determine who shall lead.

Well, before you decide to embrace this "principle", please spend a minute or two to look beyond this country and see who are the majority, or the dominant force, in the world.

Don't cry foul if this majority group come to our shores and demand to be your master. But perhaps you will change your "principle" then.

As Bersatu’s Rais Hussin said, "Changing lanes and tracks at every negotiation point is the hallmark of PAS. Hence, it is almost next to impossible to trust PAS."

David Dass: Yes, the Muslims are the majority in the country. But non-Muslims make up a significant number. And we have the Constitution. Under which we are equal before the law and enjoy equal protection of the law.

Discrimination against the minority by the majority would be unlawful. Our rights come from the Constitution and that is protection enough for us.

We do not look to the Quran for protection but are happy that the Quran also safeguards our rights as equal citizens.

Freedom of worship is guaranteed under the Constitution. We also expect non-Muslims to be represented in all branches of government as a right under the Constitution.

Newday: Hadi, how dare you call me a stupid Malay, just because I have a brain that can think independently. Do not pour scorn on us.

We are many (maybe not enough to stop the tide of the brainwashed), but I am staying put and proud of my independent thinking. Now who is ‘bodoh’ (stupid) here, Hadi?

Ash Burn: We deserve the political bigots we elect. Have you wondered why our representatives are so bent on power? And have you ever sat back to drink all that in?

Yet life is not about how they seem to view things. And this deepens our cry for honesty, fairness and real leadership.

Yet, we are moving so perilously further from reality. This kind of "news" leaves me in deep disappointment.

How great this nation would be if we, just for a moment, stopped listening to voices that divide but gathered around actions that unite us.

Anonymous 2457571486440266: "This ‘kehaibatan’ (prestige) is lost if (these positions) are left to other races which are not dominant," said Hadi.

That is a blatant racist comment and should not be tolerated. If you try to pull stunts like that in other countries, you will be locked up.

Richard-D: Hadi in Malaysia. White nationalists in Charlottesville. Can anyone spot the difference? I can't.

Awang Top: Richard-D, I can spot the difference. One has a white hood, the other a white turban.

More comments - Then ‘ketuanan Melayu’, now ‘ketuanan Islam’

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.