I rather be a fisherman - Hadi pours cold water on PM talk

KOTA BHARU -PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang today said he would prefer to be a "servant" for the people, instead of their master.

"As a leader who is taught by an Islamic party, I cannot ask to be appointed to a position. What is most important, we must first secure victory (in the 13th general elections)," said Abdul Hadi.

"I don't even mind going back to be a fisherman," he jokingly told reporters during a press conference on the sidelines of PAS 58th Muktamar here.

Abdul Hadi was asked whether he would agree to be the country's prime minister, if appointed to the position, should Pakatan Rakyat wrest federal powers from Barisan Nasional after the upcoming polls.

PR had declared that its de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be the country's next prime minister if they form federal administration and again was announced in front of the crowd during the Kota Bharu's "Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat" yesterday.

Hairun Nizam from the Ulama's wing suggested Abdul Hadi as the Prime Minister if Pakatan Rakyat came into power after the next election, saying Abdul Hadi as the 'ideal candidate' according to Islam.

Abdul Hadi also dismissed claims that PAS is clamping down on members' criticisms of its leaders, stressing that concerns raised by delegates in their debate of the presidential address yesterday will later be addressed by the individuals concerned.

"(Criticisms) just show that there is democracy within the party … We need delegates to talk (at the muktamar) and we (leaders) will respond in our winding-up speeches," he said.

Several delegates yesterday had called for stern actions to be taken against leaders whom they perceived had been making statements which contradict the party's stand on certain issues, for instance hudud.

Earlier this morning, several delegates in their debate of the presidential address continue to touch on the hudud issue.

Federal Territory Representative Zahari Arip said that PAS leadership should not be dragged into the polemic regarding 'hudud' implementation, even by their own ally within Pakatan Rakyat.

Zahari said that the PAS leadership should not compromise the party's stand on hudud, as if they were afraid of losing the support of non-Muslim communities in the country.

He even likened the situation to Kelantan Football Association president Tan Sri Annuar Musa's debacle with the Malaysian Football Association (FAM) which ended with the latter's suspension from the position for issuing a statement without the association's consent.

"PAS leaders had said that hudud will be implemented through democracy and not force … But why are there (PR) leaders who kept saying that hudud is not part of the coalition's agenda?

"Should PR also take action (against the leader) like FAM?" questioned Zahari.

PAS Supporter's Club representative Hu Pang Chaw meanwhile shocked the Muktamar when he said that the Chinese in the hall is `supportive' of MCA president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek's anti-hudud statements.

"Everytime he opens his mouth to talk bad about hudud, more and more Chinese community learns the truth about Islam and begin to support PAS.

"So I fully wish he (Chua) would continue to give these kind of statements and when we win the election, we will bring him a large chair as a present … That 'chair' he can keep," said Hu to laughter from the floor.

-thesundaily