Lim rejects Islamophobia claim, says Hadi coined ‘green wave’ term

 DAP man points out that the PAS president started using the term in 2018 when referring to the electoral gains made by the Islamic party in GE14.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said PAS is a political party, hence its policies, record and leadership are open to criticism and scrutiny.

PETALING JAYA:

An MP has dismissed PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s claim that Pakatan Harapan and DAP are spreading Islamophobia by using the term “green wave” to instil fear against the Islamic party.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng pointed out that Hadi had coined the term “gelombang hijau” (“green wave”) himself back in 2018 and used it after the 14th general election (GE14), citing articles published by PAS mouthpiece Harakah.

He said Hadi had used the term to describe the gains PAS made in Perak and its success in getting the lion’s share of state seats in Terengganu in GE14.

“This happened four years before the 2022 general election (GE15). These are facts, not my ‘interpretation’ of the matter,” Lim said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Hadi said DAP started using the term “green wave” after PAS won the highest number of seats in GE15 and formed the government in four states

The PAS president said the term had stigmatised the party and Muslims.

Lim said Hadi should not misconstrue criticism of PAS as an attack on Islam. Like any other political party, its policies, record and leadership are open to criticism and scrutiny, he added.

“Even PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had once said that PAS had never claimed to be the sole embodiment of Islam. So why is Hadi labelling criticism of PAS as Islamophobia?

“PAS cannot use religion as an armour against political criticism. No one can consider criticism against the party as a criticism against Islam,” the four-term MP said. - FMT