Pas should drop ‘bai’ah’, says ex-leader

ALOR STAR: Pas should drop bai’ah (oath of allegiance) for its candidates in the 14th General Election (GE14) if the party is confident in its strength and members’ loyalty.

Anak Bukit assemblyman Datuk Amirudin Hamzah, who left the party for Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, said: “If Pas believes that it is strong, it needs to stop asking its candidates to take bai’ah.”

The former Kuala Kedah Pas commissioner and state opposition leader said Pas should not have included a clause in bai’ah that touched on marital matters because that had nothing to do with politics.

“The oath involves someone’s marriage. If a person (member or leader) leaves the party, there must be a strong reason for that person to do it.

“Islamic scholars have said that any bai’ah that has a divorce clause is void because the person’s action in leaving the party has no connection to marriage.”

Pas Kubang Rotan assemblyman Mohd Nasir Mustafa applauded the party’s decision, but said bai’ah taken by the party’s leaders in Kedah did not touch on marital matters, including divorce.

It was reported that Pas was expected to drop the divorce clause in its controversial bai’ah, which its election candidates are required to take.

Pas ulama chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed was quoted as saying that the party believed its political clout had increased, hence bai’ah would have to be streamlined, with the talak tiga divorce clause likely to be discarded.

He said the clause was included by the late Pas spiritual leader and Kelantan menteri besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat due to the party’s “severely weakened position” in the state then.

If Pas believes that it is strong, it needs to stop asking its candidates to take bai’ah. DATUK AMIRUDIN HAMZAH

Anak Bukit assemblyman