'Extreme' PAS should self-reflect, PKR leader defends Saifuddin

A PKR leader has urged PAS to reflect on its own conduct after some of the Islamist party’s members took umbrage over Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s criticism of their president.

Penang PKR leadership council member Johari Kassim said PAS should consider whether its conduct and mannerism are in accordance with Islamic principles.

“PAS, a party which cannot move on, should do some self-reflection on whether their conduct and mannerism are in line with Islamic principles.

“Enough of extreme politicking. PAS should learn to become an opposition with quality when taking on the government,” Johari (above) said in a statement.

On Sept 17, Saifuddin said PAS, under the leadership of its president Abdul Hadi Awang, had strayed far from its original cause.

He described the party’s rhetoric during its recently concluded 70th muktamar as “the pinnacle of politics of hate” where slander and insults were used against political opponents.

“Do PAS members realise that beneath the Quranic and Hadith-laden arguments lie attitudes and behaviours that actually deviate from Islamic teachings?

“Are PAS followers and leaders aware that their values, positions, messages, and approaches increasingly resemble those of the Khawarij, and that Hadi is fully responsible for cultivating these values and practices for the past 40 years?” he questioned.

Saifuddin’s stinging criticism drew the ire of several PAS leaders, with Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria accusing the minister of acting like a cybertrooper.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, meanwhile, accused Saifuddin of being tone-deaf and urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to sack him.

Why so upset, Takiyuddin?

Defending Saifuddin’s statement, Johari said it was hilarious to see PAS leaders heaping a barrage of criticism against the former just because Hadi got reprimanded.

He stressed that Saifuddin had a basis for making the criticism, which was premised on facts and political reality.

“I find it amusing when Takiyuddin got so upset because Saifuddin didn’t refer to Hadi using his honorific titles, calling the minister rude,” Johari added.

On that note, Johari agreed with Saifuddin’s assessment that PAS is getting too extreme and it’s as if the party was the only true champion of Islam and truth.

“PAS leaders criticise government leaders, including Anwar, on a daily basis harshly and with improper labels.

“As such, once in a while, PAS deserves such harsh rebukes and Saifuddin’s criticism is much welcomed.”

‘Changing God’s religion’

During the muktamar on Sept 14, Hadi claimed that there was a group of religious people who were working alongside “cruel” leaders who had changed the religion of Allah and created their own.

Among others, the Marang MP claimed that the federal government was like the agenda of the munafiq or hypocrites during the early years of Islam in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Munafiq refers to a person who, in public, shows he or she is a Muslim but rejects Islam or speaks against the faith in his or her heart or when among enemies of the religion.

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