PAS abhors racism unlike Umno, Zaid says, backing MCA ex-VP's remarks

Summary

• Former minister Zaid Ibrahim backs ex-MCA vice president Ti Lian Ker’s assessment that PAS seemed more sensible compared to Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh.

• He praises PAS for rejecting racism and tribalism, adding that the states led by the Islamist party allow the private sector to drive economic growth.

• However, past actions and remarks by PAS seemed to be at odds with Zaid’s claims.

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim backed ex-MCA leader Ti Lian Ker’s assessment that PAS seemed more sensible compared to Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh.

He also accused DAP of painting the Islamist party in a bad light to keep Chinese votes for itself.

“Former MCA vice-president Ti hit the nail on the head. PAS is far more restrained than Umno on racial issues.

“In fact, PAS abhors tribalism (assabiyah) as it is not part of Islamic tradition.

“Its (PAS’) so-called ‘extremism’ is largely the result of DAP’s long-running political theatre, portraying PAS as the perennial bogeyman to keep Chinese votes loyal,” Zaid said on X today.

Amid Akmal’s vitriol over a flag blunder in Penang, Ti said PAS seemed more rational than the Umno Youth chief.

“In a way, Akmal’s actions, in this respect, are worse than his contemporaries in PAS.

“PAS leaders seem more rational and composed in their words and deeds,” he added.

However, the past remarks of PAS leaders do not indicate that it was averse to playing the race and religion cards.

In August 2022, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang blamed Malays for being apathetic to voting, resulting in non-Malays and “liberals” gaining control of the country’s political power in the last general election.

The Marang MP also said corruption stemmed from those who reaped profits through illegal means, alleging the majority of them were non-Muslims and non-bumiputera.

The remark drew criticism from MPs, with Bukit Aman launching an investigation against the Marang MP.

On July 20 last year, several quarters criticised Jasin MP Zulkifli Ismail for reciting the qunut nazilah against the government after Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal was suspended from attending the Dewan Rakyat for six months.

Qunut nazilah is a prayer that is usually recited to seek protection or help from God when facing trouble or disaster, or for help to defeat a more powerful enemy.

Zulkifli made the same prayer during the Turun Anwar rally last month, seeking the collapse of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government, leading to condemnation from Akmal.

PAS’ economic governance

Extolling PAS’ credentials, Zaid said when the party governed Kelantan and Terengganu in the 1990s and 2000s, it did not come up with policies to exclude non-Malays from business or education.

He also contrasted it with Umno-led administrations, which openly maintained race-based monopolies, tightened bumiputera quotas, and entrenched rent-seeking cartels in the form of approved permits.

“Investors recall that PAS state governments, despite ideological conservatism, did not demand the same ‘political toll fees’ that became standard practice under Umno,” he added.

The former Kota Bharu MP said the real game-changer when it comes to PAS is its economic governance - where it leaves economic growth to the private sector.

“PAS is more inclined to let the private sector drive growth, with the government as facilitator and enabler - not gatekeeper and rent collector.

“Approvals move faster because there are fewer ‘negotiations’ at every stage.

“Without the entrenched crony culture of Umno and its Madani heirs, the business environment would be cleaner, leaner, and far more predictable,” he added.

In March this year, the Kelantan state government drew brickbats over its decision to order certain business premises to close on the first day of Hari Raya.

Ironically, Zaid was one of the critics, saying the PAS-led government risked being sued for the decision.

“Businesses pay licences (fees) to the state government. Before the state collected the money, did they inform the companies that they were to close on Aidilfitri? If not, they can be sued.

“How one celebrates Hari Raya depends on the person. They may want to work to make some money.

“It’s not the government’s business to regulate personal choices,” Zaid stated back then.

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