‘PAS DIVIDES MUSLIM MALAYS DEEPLY’
What Pas has done is unforgivable, says Dr Mahathir
PAS’ tendency to call those who work with non-Muslims “infidels” is the root cause of disunity among Malays, claims Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In a post on his blog on the Umno-Pas alliance, Dr Mahathir reminded Malaysians that it was Pas that labelled Umno “un-Islamic” for working with the Chinese (Buddhists) and Indians (Hindus) during the pre-Independence days of the Alliance (Perikatan).
“As a result, Muslim non-Pas Malays, who follow the same teachings of Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamaah propagated by Imam Shafie, were grouped as infidels. A deep and terrible division happened.
“Pas members could not be with Umno, even Umno kenduri were boycotted by Pas. Marriages between Pas and Umno (members) were banned. They could not even pray together in group prayers or share the same imam. Pas prayed and built separate mosques from their Umno brethren.”
He said some even had the audacity to denounce their parents’ marriage as invalid.
The Pakatan Harapan chairman reminded Malaysians that it was Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang who previously declared an “amanat” that the Umno-Barisan Nasional-led administration was a “government of infidels”.
He said Hadi described those who died fighting against the Umno-BN government as martyrs in the eyes of Islam.
He said the late Ibrahim Libya’s followers had attacked and killed four policemen while following Hadi’s amanat. What ensued was the death of Ibrahim and his 14 followers in what would become known as the Memali Incident in Memali, Baling, Kedah, on Nov 19, 1985.
“It is clear that Pas divides Muslim Malays deeply. Until today, there are still (Malays) who pray separately in the same mosque.
“No ulama in Malaysia dares to say that the declaration that nonPas members are infidels is wrong and contravenes Islamic teachings. Administration officers with purview over Islam also remain silent. What Pas has done is unforgivable.”
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman remarked that the split weakened Malays and, ironically, even Pas members were forced to seek help from the “so-called infidels” themselves.
This, he said, could be seen in Pas’ cooperation throughout history with Pakatan Rakyat and others.
He said when Pas chose to work with non-Muslim parties, they conveniently abstained from grouping them as infidels.
Dr Mahathir said they used the excuse that it was done on the principle of “Tahaluf Siyasi”, which is similar to Umno’s reason for its collaboration with MCA and MIC.
“Thus, it is clear that the Arabic language (Quranic language) was used to Islamicise Pas’ collaboration with infidels.”
The Langkawi member of parliament warned that among Pas followers, party leaders trump Islamic teachings that preached brotherhood.
“Pas members are willing to make enemies of fellow Muslims thanks to the teachings of their leaders, and that is why Muslims (Malays) in Malaysia are divided until now. Islam did not divide them, but Pas’ politics brought the division of Malays.”