PAN elected reps the arrogant ones, says Pas leader

A Syura Council member tears into PAN for calling the Pas president ‘arrogant’. He says PAN leaders themselves had acted arrogantly when they broke an oath of allegiance.

ASENIOR Pas leader hit out at his former colleague for labelling party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang an “arrogant” leader.

In rebuking Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) communications director Khalid Samad over his statement, Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said PAN elected representatives had stood by their decision to break the bai’ah (oath of allegiance) upon quitting the Islamic party.

Khairuddin, who is Pas Syura Council member, said such PAN leaders had refused to relinquish their elected posts that were won on the Pas ticket in the 13th General Election and had effectively gone against religious laws based on their bai’ah.

“The ones who are arrogant and conceited are those who had refused to leave their positions as elected representatives upon leaving Pas.

“They make excuses to justify their actions for breaking the bai’ah with Allah. They display arrogance before Allah’s law,” Khairuddin told the New Straits Times.

It was reported that under the bai’ah, Pas leaders who contested on the party ticket in the previous general election were made to sign a religious pledge that they would divorce their spouse should they leave the party, while still holding positions as elected representatives.

Khalid had told BH Online that Hadi was an arrogant leader who tended to be “condescending” towards others.

He claimed that former Pas leaders who were now with PAN had, back then, tried to “restrain” Hadi from his arrogance and “extreme” behaviour.

Khairuddin also said Khalid did not seem to comprehend the difference between the concepts of “izzah kebanggaan” (strength of pride), and “being arrogantly firm”.

“We must achieve a ‘strength of pride’ when championing Islam. This ‘strength of pride’ will lead to firmness in setting Islamic principles in politics.

“The president (Hadi) has been pulling out all the stops in defending Islamic principles in politics.

“Khalid, meanwhile, has arrogantly violated Islamic political principles and the bai’ah.”

Pas central committee member Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz said Khalid’s statement was made in defence of PAN’s weaknesses which saw its subservience to other Pakatan Harapan members.

“When PAN tries to make its voice heard, the sound it makes is akin to a noisy cricket in an expansive jungle,” Nik Abduh said in a Facebook posting yesterday.

He also said being arrogant was nevertheless better than being weak, pathetic and easily manipulated.

“Pas is only belittled and hated by its political enemies.

“But Pas is also praised and respected by the people, not because of its arrogance, but for its compassion, truthfulness and perseverance in upholding the religion and its struggles.”