Hadi explains ‘all Malay, Muslim’ cabinet issue

MARANG: Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang yesterday clarified that he did not say that he had envisioned an all MalayMuslim cabinet for Malaysia in his opinion piece in Harakah Daily last week.

Hadi, in clarifying a New Straits Times online report on Monday quoting him as saying so, said under the constitution, all races were citizens and Pas accepted that everyone has their rights, including in economy and politics.

“Malaysia practices a unique and flexible political system where the prime minister must be a Muslim, but allow the appointment of cabinet ministers from among non-Muslims,” he said, adding that this system, however, was not practised in many other countries.

“We (in Malaysia) are unlike the governments of the United States, Britain or Communist countries. When one party wins, for example, after the Republican comes to power, the party will remove everyone who is not in their

It is a formula that enabled Muslims and non-Muslims to live in harmony.

group. Similarly, in Communist countries, they will only appoint party members (to the cabinet).”

He said Malaysia practised a multi-party system to represent various races.

“However, the prime minister must be a Muslim to uphold the constitution and (formulate) policies, with the cabinet ministers having executive functions.

“All these are bound by the constitution.”

He said at the state level, such functions were held by menteris besar and executive councillors.

“It is a formula that has enabled Muslims and nonMuslims to live in harmony in this country,” he said.

He said he believed the majority of political parties acknowledged the country’s flexible political system.

Harakah Daily had, on Dec 22, published Hadi’s article, titled “Mengapa kalau Islam tidak boleh?”, in which he penned his thoughts on Islamic politics and governance.