PAS claps back at Tajuddin: What about educating DAP members?

Summary

• PAS information chief responds to an academic’s suggestion to hold courses for the Islamist party’s members.

• Ahmad Fadhli Shaari questions the Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi’s silence on issues concerning DAP leaders.

• Fadhli acknowledges that the “daughter of YTL” is a mistake which should not have happened.

PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari has questioned why Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi has not suggested DAP educate its members after the academic told the Islamist party to do so.

The Pasir Mas MP was responding to the academic’s suggestion that the party teach its members about Chinese names after a PAS leader came under fire for wrongly linking a DAP leader to a tycoon as they had the same family name.

Fadhli claimed that DAP would benefit from lessons on respect and making proper statements, recalling the case of Pahang DAP member Michael Cheah in 2019, who was accused of insulting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at that time.

“DAP issued a statement saying that it was a personal view and did not represent the party. The respected professor did not call for DAP to conduct training for its members on how to respect the royal institution,” he added.

Fadhli also referenced DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok’s statement regarding halal certification, which Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said ignited an unnecessary controversy.

“Yet, the professor did not urge DAP to conduct training for its members on how to make necessary statements,” he added.

The PAS leader also cited the case of another DAP lawmaker, Ngeh Koo Ham, who made a statement regarding non-Muslim representation in the special committee to review the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court, for which he later apologised.

“The DAP secretary-general (Anthony Loke) stated that it was a mistake and certainly did not represent the party. The professor did not mention that DAP should hold a course for its MPs on how to make statements without errors,” he added.

In explaining his reason for mentioning DAP, Fadhli provided a link to a 2013 article on the party’s website, which stated that Tajuddin had “joined” DAP.

“Therefore, I advise (Tajuddin) that instead of using the title of academician, just use the title ‘DAP member’ as it is more appropriate and sounds better,” he added.

However, Tajuddin, when contacted, revealed that he quit DAP in 2018.

Fadhli ‘touched’ by don’s care for PAS

On a sarcastic note, Fadhli said the architecture professor’s suggestion had moved him to tears.

“How deeply the academician loves and cares for PAS, which led to such a good suggestion, but it is somewhat outdated in terms of facts and data,” he said.

According to him, Tajuddin gave the impression as if PAS is completely ignorant about the customs and cultures of non-Malay communities in Malaysia.

“Perhaps he has never visited Kelantan to see the very harmonious cultural exchange, especially during the Chinese New Year celebrations like now.

“Perhaps, he thinks the Malay, Chinese, and Indian communities in Kelantan, for example, live like strangers, not greeting one another, let alone visiting and understanding each other's cultures,” he said.

“It might be because the professor studies architecture involving wood, cement, and carvings, but he missed studying about people,” he added.

Citing another article, Fadhli also questioned Tajuddin’s understanding of Islam, saying that the academic should be the “last person” to raise such matters.

Razman’s ‘factual mistake’

On the same note, the PAS leader addressed the controversy surrounding Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria, who falsely claimed that DAP lawmaker and Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh is the daughter of YTL Corporation Berhad’s founder Yeoh Tiong Lay.

Fadhli said this was a “factual mistake” which is regretted and should not have happened.

“Razman takes full responsibility, and it is clear that he has apologised.

“The minister has also stated that she will be sending a lawyer’s letter. If the lawsuit proceeds to trial, we will leave it to the court to determine the extent of the damages suffered by the minister,” he added.

Academic suggests PAS educates members on Chinese names

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