Hadi slammed for harping on race instead of integrity in leadership

Pakatan Harapan Youth leaders have blasted PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for prioritising leadership by race instead of integrity.

They were commenting on PAS chief's open letter yesterday and a similar statement earlier last week that Muslims must be the ones leading the country.

Hadi's statement reeks of racialism, said Amanah deputy Youth chief Faiz Fadzil, DAP Youth bureau secretary Howard Lee, PKR Youth organising secretary Ahmad Syukri Razab and Bersatu Youth information chief Ulya Aqamah Husamudin in a joint statement today.

"Stability and prosperity of a country does not depend only on who rules the country, but instead, on how the country is ruled.

"What should be stressed is integrity, trust, good governance and freedom from corruption, and transparency.

"The religion of the ruler is stressed so that integrity is guaranteed and esteemed values of the religion are inculcated in the administration," they said.

"The question arises as to whether Hadi is holding on to principles of integrity, when he fails to oppose (allegations of corruption aimed at) Prime Minister Najib Razak in the 1MDB scandal."

They said while Hadi in his open letter has espoused various religious texts to back his claim, the arguments were "inaccurate and loose".

They cited how Prophet Muhammad spoke against championing a cause in the name of race (assabiyyah), where it was said the prophet condemned those who "wage war under the banner of assabiyyah, call towards assabiyyah and assist in assabiyyah".

No to 'master and servant'

The Harapan Youth leaders said it was of concern that there were elements in Hadi's statement that were potentially insensitive to non-Muslims, who deserve respect in line with the federal constitution and Rukunegara.

“In fact, his call, which likens the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims as if one between a master and a servant in the context of Malaysia needs to be corrected, so as not not give a negative perception of Islam,” said the four.

“We maintain that narrow racial sentiments should not be used as tools to snare votes in the coming 14th general election,” they added.

“Harapan Youth urge the people to uphold leaders who hold on to principles of integrity in order to heal the country's administration that is now corrupt and cruel.”

Last week Hadi in a statement said, "In Malaysia, Muslim Malays who are the dominant race must be appointed to leadership positions due to Islam's position in the Federal Constitution and that the monarchy consists of Muslims.

"The same goes for key positions in the country, such as the judiciary, administration, security and defence, because of the prestige these positions bring.

"This ‘kehebatan’ (magnificence) is lost if (these positions) are left to other races that are not dominant." - Mkini