PAS wants voters to reject chauvinistic parties

KUALA TERENGGANU: PAS today called on the people to reject in the coming general election opportunist political parties which do not respect Islam as the religion of the federation.
Its president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, said these parties were bold enough to oppose all PAS efforts to have an Islamic administration, despite the matter having nothing to do with non-Muslims.
"They have also resorted to getting Muslims who are willing to be the shields or to be made use of. Muslims should not be denied their right to practice Islam in its totality while the followers of other religions practice their religions freely.
"In Malaysia, the Malays are the dominant community. As such, the main leadership of the nation should be appointed from among the faithful, wise and just Malay Muslim bumiputeras, along with non-Muslims, as the Cabinet ministers or state executive councillors," he said in an open letter to all voters in view of the 14th General Election (GE14) on May 9.
Abdul Hadi, who was the Marang MP in the 13th Parliament, also said that PAS could not participate in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) because the opposition pact's policies and concept ran contrary to the party's.
"There are a party and leaders in that pact who continue to oppose Islam overtly, covertly or opportunistically," he said, adding that the party interfered in the Act 355 [amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act], which had nothing to do with non-Muslims.
The PAS leader said he hoped that all voters, especially those abroad, would make it a point to return to their constituencies despite various obstacles and difficulties to exercise their right to vote, because there was no other responsibility greater than determining the leadership of the country.
He also said that PAS would field candidates of calibre and free of corruption in the general election.
Nomination for the polls is set for April 28. — Bernama