Hadi to Muslims: Would you rather herd cows or pigs?

Malay-Muslims must seek to understand the nature of politics, especially when choosing between Muslim and non-Muslim rule, says PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Using the analogy of herding, Hadi (above) asked if Malays in the country “would rather be cow herders or pig herders”.

In his explanation, he referred to the fall of Islamic power in Spain in the 1400s, claiming that even under a cruel Islamic rule, Muslims, at the very least, will be cow herders, compared to what they would be under the rule of “others”.

He, however, did not detail who he meant by others.

“If we are patient with each other (Muslims), even if (the leadership) is cruel, we can be cow herders at least, but under other people’s rule, we will become pig herders.

“If you want to fight so much, you want to be a pig herder or a cow herder? You must understand, this is politics,” he said when speaking during the inaugural Perak Muafakat Nasional gathering in Bagan Datuk in Perak last night.

As such, Hadi claimed Malays have faced the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018 in a political environment dominated by other races.

“We are the majority race, the masters (tuan punya) of this country. So how could this be? When they are united, we are divided,” he purported.

Last night’s event was held in conjunction with the Perak Muafakat Nasional Convention. In attendance was Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Bagan Datuk parliamentarian.

Following heavy losses in GE14, Umno and PAS formed a political cooperation through Muafakat Nasional.

The two opposition parties and former rivals formalised the pact by signing the "Piagam Muafakat Nasional” (National Cooperation Charter) in September, last year.

It was reported that they are exploring further the possibility of forming a coalition. Aside from Umno, another BN component party, MIC, has said it would join such a coalition.

Meanwhile, the MCA insisted the Muafakat Nasional is just a “spirit” of cooperation among the opposition parties.

Zahid (below), the BN chairperson, however, yesterday expressed confidence that the Muafakat Nasional will take over power in Perak in GE15.

The Umno-PAS cooperation would succeed in wresting up to 40 state seats, he said.

He also alluded to PAS being in the cabinet in a Muakafat Nasional government, along with other component parties.

“Look at the trend, the non-Malay voters have returned to us, for example in Tanjung Piai and Cameron Highlands.

“If there is a surprise general election, I am sure PAS will also join the cabinet in Putrajaya,” he said.

He further claimed even the Pakatan Harapan government was aware of the threat posed by the Muafakat Nasional in the next general polls. - Mkini