Hadi on Dr M: He’s not the same man

PAS president believes PM has changed for the better with age

KUALA TERENGGANU: They may not have seen eye to eye in the past. But PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang believes that his longtime political foe Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad may have changed for the better with age.

“He’s not the same man. Then, he was 40. Now, he is in his 90s,” he told a press conference after opening the 64th PAS muktamar (general assembly) here yesterday.

Abdul Hadi said he was not surprised with the Prime Minister’s change in attitude towards political parties that do not share his ideals.

“Environments change, situations change, and even thinking can change. Dr Mahathir has gained more experience now and I believe he has learned from his past weaknesses and therefore has become more mature,” he added.

Abdul Hadi said Dr Mahathir’s political maturity can be seen through his decision to agree to extend petroleum royalties to Kelantan and Terengganu, which is regarded as an issue of contention in the petroleum-producing states in the east coast.

A year after PAS took over Terengganu in the 1999 general elec- tion, the royalties were converted to wang ehsan (goodwill payment), which was then channelled via a federal development department.

Although Barisan Nasional re-captured the state in 2004, this arrangement on wang ehsan has remained until now.

It was reported that Kelantan had been demanding for royalty for years but was only given wang ehsan since 2010.

When asked about PAS’ relationship with the federal government, Abdul Hadi said although PAS has constantly been on the receiving end of attacks by Pakatan Harapan, the Islamist party will only respond peacefully and patiently.

“We would rather explain our points than attack others,” he added.