Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi, who has never concealed his contempt for Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh’s demagoguery, is, however, convinced that when juxtaposed with PAS, the Umno Youth chief appears as a “kitten”, albeit feral.
Continuing with his zoological similitude, the professor of architecture is of the opinion that PAS resembles a “tiger” that could tear the nation apart with its brand of political Islam if not contained.
He argued that in the PAS school of thought, there is no distinction between the party and the religion, whilst its leaders are placed on a sacrosanct pedestal and cannot be questioned or criticised without incurring divine wrath.
“Yes, I agree. Being rude and uncouth have been the hallmarks of Umno, and now, leaders like Akmal and (supreme council member) Nur Jazlan Mohamed are upholding that tradition.
“But PAS is on a whole different level,” he told Malaysiakini.
The academic was responding to PAS Youth leader Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who claimed that although the Islamist party disagreed with DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok on the halal certification issue, it would not resort to disparagement.
“That is not our culture,” he said when asked to comment on Akmal’s diatribe against Kok.
PAS far from respectful
However, Tajuddin begged to differ and recalled PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang telling non-Muslims not to emulate the “liberal animals without dignity in the West” when it concerned dressing.
“I suppose this is not disrespectful because it comes from Hadi, who is infallible?” he posed a sarcastic question.
Hadi raised this when commenting on the Kota Bharu Municipal Council (MPKB) in the PAS-ruled state of Kelantan fining a non-Muslim female business owner over her clothing last year.
The woman had complained on Facebook that she was fined for wearing shorts on her own premises, prompting complaints that the authorities were imposing religious law on non-Muslims.
“PAS simply declares all non-Muslims as corrupt even though more Malays are being prosecuted for that crime and sin,” said Tajuddin, citing another example.
In 2022, Hadi had courted flak when he claimed that non-Muslims and non-bumiputera were the main “roots of corruption”.
In August this year, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay also censured those who turned corruption into a racial and religious issue, saying that Muslims should not blame others if their faith is weak.
All about gaining power
In another instance, Tajuddin recounted PAS describing non-Muslim political rivals as “kafir harbi” or enemies of Islam, which led to police reports being lodged.
The academic also pointed out that PAS does not just reserve these incendiary labels for non-Muslims but also uses them against Muslims who oppose the party.
“PAS, in the words of Fadhli, was not being impolite or uncouth when it recited the qunut nazilah prayer in Parliament?” he asked.
“No, PAS is never uncouth, just extremely dangerous.
“It does not belong in a peace-loving Malaysia because of their leaders, who, without a sense of responsibility or remorse, make statements and hurl labels that could have dire consequences.
“To them, it is about obtaining power, and the end justifies the means,” he surmised.
In July, Perikatan Nasional lawmakers recited the qunut nazilah in Parliament after Bersatu lawmaker Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal was suspended.
In response, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said it should not be recited to pray for the destruction of political rivals within the Muslim community.
“During the time of Prophet Muhammad, qunut nazilah was recited in situations when a group of the prophet’s companions were treacherously killed at Bir Mau’nah. The prophet prayed qunut nazilah for a month to seek Allah’s justice for the act,” he explained.
In September 2022, two months before he and his party Pejuang were decimated in the 15th general election, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad also recollected that PAS had branded Umno and those who are not aligned with it as “kafir”.
Two decades earlier, during his first tenure as prime minister, he had accused PAS of abusing Islam for its political objectives.
However, the 99-year-old politician, similar to his counterparts in other parties, has since come full circle and is now collaborating with PAS. - Mkini
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