Tuan Ibrahim: Not Hadi on May 13, but grandfather in WW2

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has apologised for wrongfully stating that party president Abdul Hadi Awang sheltered a Chinese family during the racial riots on May 13, 1969.

After rechecking the issue, the Kubang Kerian MP discovered it was Hadi’s grandfather who had helped a Chinese person during World War II.

"Apologies for the error," the Kubang Kerian MP told Malaysiakini this afternoon.

Tuan Ibrahim (above) mentioned the incident during his speech during a ceramah at sidelines of the PAS Muktamar in Shah Alam last Saturday.

Without providing details, he said: “The May 13 (riots) did not happen in Kelantan and Terengganu, it only happened in Kuala Lumpur. It didn’t happen in Kelantan even though the Chinese community is the minority.

“In fact, if you read Terengganu’s history, a Chinese family sought refuge in ‘tuan guru’ PAS president’s house. There was no problem.”

A check by Malaysiakini revealed that Hadi was 22 at the time of the riots and was studying at the Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia.

Although there is no information on his grandfather, Hadi’s father, Awang Mohamad Abdul Rahman, however, was a social scholar and an activist of Hizbul Muslimin.

Hizbul Muslimin was the first Islamic party in Malaya that was banned by the British after being linked to the "radical" activities of left-wing nationalist groups such as the Malayan Nationalist Party and its right-wing faction, Angkatan Pemuda Insaf.

Tuan Ibrahim’s remarks on “Hadi sheltering a Chinese family” were seen as part of the narrative to win over non-Muslim voters.

During his policy speech at the PAS Muktamar on Friday, Hadi had instructed the Islamist party to win over the hearts and minds of the non-Muslim electorate.

“We have successfully gained the support of Malay Muslim voters in GE15, so the important and challenging task ahead is to attract non-Muslim and non-Malay voters in GE16.

"This matter is crucial and should be discussed and implemented with hard work, organisation, and wisdom," he said. - Mkini