Corruption crackdown used as political weapon, not systemic fix: Hadi

PAS MUKTAMAR | PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang accused the government of selectively deploying graft crackdowns to vilify its political rivals, while allegedly allowing its allies to escape calls for justice.

In his policy speech at the central PAS muktamar in Kota Bharu today, Hadi claimed that corruption issues in Malaysia are “frequently weaponised” as political ammunition to discredit opponents, rather than addressed as a “systemic evil” that must be eradicated.

“This manifests as selective prosecution where political rivals are targeted, while misconduct within one’s own ranks is overlooked, whether involving the bribegiver, the recipient, or the intermediary facilitating the corrupt deal,” the Marang MP said.

While the Islamist party’s leader did not specify any individuals, he named the delayed release of the royal commission of inquiry’s report on Tabung Haji as an instance when issues were utilised during an election campaign to impact the public standing of those implicated.

“There have been shortcomings in the management of public funds and GLCs, which we severely regret,” Hadi said.

“Such issues should be brought before a court of law once adequate proof is established, instead of being litigated in the media or on political stages, and certainly not weaponised as campaign fodder to create public prejudice, as occurred with the Tabung Haji RCI issue.”

The RCI report on Tabung Haji, which was completed in 2022, was released during the campaign period for the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan polls.

Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of delaying the release of the report to keep unity government ally Umno onside, alleging that its findings would expose the party’s failed stewardship of the pilgrimage fund.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan, however, said the government delayed releasing the RCI report on Tabung Haji to give the institution time to recover first.

Yesterday, DAP lawmaker RSN Rayer insisted that the same standards must apply to political allies and opponents when it comes to the government’s renewed crackdown on corruption.

He said this while urging the attorney-general to review the discontinuation of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s 47 corruption charges related to Yayasan Akalbudi.

‘Precarious position’

Hadi today also claimed that under Pakatan Harapan chairperson Anwar’s administration, the Malay-Muslim community has been put in a “precarious position” as the PKR president’s government is “dominated by non-Muslim factions”.

Considering how the matter supposedly poses a threat to the objectives of Islamic law, Hadi said measures aimed at “averting major harm” must take absolute priority.

“As the legal maxim states: ‘Preventing harm takes precedence over securing benefit’,” he declared.

“This maxim is one of the principles within Islamic jurisprudence, political governance, and the objectives of Islamic law - all of which form an essential part of proper understanding of the religion.

“When confronted with severe danger and severe consequences, preventing greater harm must be prioritised above all else,” he affirmed.

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