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PAS leader: Nik Aziz, Hadi declined 'wife makeup allowance', other perks
Published:  Jan 22, 2018 5:57 PM
Updated: 11:25 AM

There is nothing impressive about a political leader who is free of corruption, according to PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

He said this is because such leaders were not supposed to be corrupt in the first place.

However, the veteran politician said leaders who declined to accept what is rightfully theirs should be admired.

“You can be impressed with leaders who do not take what is 'halal' (permitted by Islam). It is their right (to accept), but the person does not take it,” he added.

Following this, Tuan Ibrahim revealed how the late PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and party president Abdul Hadi Awang refused to accept several allowances when serving as menteri besar.

He said this included the purported allowance to purchase cosmetics for their wives.

“Nik Aziz and Hadi as menteri besar did not take the allowances. The housing allowance itself was more than RM1 million, (they) never took.

“Wife's makeup allowance. Apparently, there is an allowance for wife's makeup. This was not taken. Allowance to hold (lunches or dinners for festive) celebrations was not taken,” he added.

Tuan Ibrahim said the pair had rejected these allowances despite being legally entitled to them.

“We have to be impressed by this. They did not even take what is rightfully theirs, what more bribes? This (form of leadership) is what we must give the people,” he added.

Nik Aziz was the menteri besar of Kelantan from 1990 up to his death in 2013 whereas Hadi served as Terengganu menteri besar for a single term from 1999 to 2004.

Tuan Ibrahim had said this during a dinner with Gagasan Sejathera leaders at the Chon Moi hall in Kota Tinggi, Johor on Jan 18. A transcript of his speech was published in Harakah Daily today.

Soured ties with DAP

During the event, the PAS leader also spoke of how the Islamist party and DAP, who were once allies in the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat, had parted ways on an acrimonious note.

Tuan Ibrahim said the reason for the divorce was PAS' proposal to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) and noted how DAP had attacked Hadi.

“We said, PAS is not forcing DAP to support (the proposal) in Parliament, but it cannot block it. This is our right...

“Sarawak DAP Youth attacked Kelantan PAS over the Shariah Criminal Code II 1993 Enactment. This enactment falls under the powers of the state and not federal (government)...,” he added.

Tuan Ibrahim recalled his exchange with DAP's father and son pair of Lim Kit Siang and Guan Eng over the issue.

“I said 'please get the DAP central leadership to reprimand Sarawak DAP Youth for attacking Kelantan PAS', which was in Pakatan Rakyat at the time. What did he (DAP) say? 'It's a little difficult (to reprimand) because Sarawak DAP has its own autonomy'...

“I said 'if Sarawak DAP has autonomy, then we in Kelantan also have autonomy'. Back then do you remember, they attacked to the point of creating Pasma (a platform for PAS rebels). Created Pasma to attack the leadership, support certain individuals in the PAS election. This is meddling in an ally's (internal matters). This is not right.

“It was the same with PKR, apologise (but then) PKR goes to Kelantan, attacks the Kelantan government. At the time, still in Pakatan Rakyat,” he added.

He also noted how during the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections, PKR, which was still an ally, shared the same stage with PAS splinter party Amanah, where PAS was attacked.

Tuan Ibrahim also emphasised that PAS does not reject the Chinese community or any race and pointed out that the party's supporters wing comprised those of all races and religions.

“On the formula of uniting Malaysians, we have to unite them based on similarities, don't exaggerate the differences. In order to unite the people, we must magnify our shared values...

“For example, language. The Chinese have their language and we have to celebrate their language and culture. It is their right. We cannot curtail their language. In fact, PAS welcomes their language,” he added.

The difference, he said, is in religious beliefs and differences have to be respected.

“The similarities have to be magnified so that we can find a meeting point to build the future of Malaysia,” he added.

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