PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's recent statement on how he would compose a cabinet clearly shows discrimination towards non-Muslims, said an MCA official.

MCA religious harmony bureau chief Ti Lian Ker said Hadi had expressly stated that non-Muslims were only fit for the roles of "kepakaran dan pengurusan" (professional and management) in the cabinet.

In contrast, he said Hadi had stressed that matters of "dasar dan konsep" (policy and concept) must only be handled by Muslim cabinet members.

"Why is the PAS president and his party discriminating non-Muslims by imposing restrictions on policymaking? Is this the fairness being touted by PAS leaders?" said Ti in a statement today.

Hadi (photo) has come under fire over his statement on Dec 23 which stressed that the cabinet should be composed of Muslims because they form the majority in this country.

Islam, Hadi had said, provides "more rights" to non-Muslims in terms of politics, economy and other worldly affairs, more so than the rights prescribed by other "man-made ideologies".

However, as Ti pointed out, Hadi also said: "Dalam aspek politik, Islam tegas mewajibkan kepimpinan utama yang menjaga dasar dan konsepnya daripada penganut Islam dan menerima bukan Islam dalam aspek kepakaran dan pengurusan, bukannya perkara dasar dan konsep."

(In terms of politics, Islam strictly requires leaders in charge of policies and concepts to be Muslims while accepting non-Muslims in terms of expertise and management, not policy and concept.)

Given that this was expressly stated by Hadi and published by PAS' organ Harakah Daily, Ti asked how was it possible that PAS leaders are making denials now.

"Where is the sincerity and honesty of PAS leaders? [...] The statement was clear and yet they are pointing fingers and blaming the messenger for slander," he said.

Ti added that Hadi once had an opportunity to lead a cabinet when PAS was installed as the state government of Terengganu in 1999 but they floundered and was routed in the following election.

At the time, Hadi's cabinet was exclusively Muslim.