Hadi urges ROS to probe if other parties respect constitution

MUKTAMAR | The Registrar of Societies (ROS) must probe other political parties, and see if they respect and adhere to the Federal Constitution, said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

"For example, Islam as the official religion, do they respect that?" Hadi said at the close of the 63rd muktamar in Alor Setar today.

He also wanted other matters to be looked into, such as whether other parties respect Malaysia's constitutional monarchy, Bahasa Malaysia as the official language, and the bumiputera special rights.

While he made no mention of which party he was referring to, this could be aimed at ally-turned-foe DAP.

DAP has been accused by its critics as having a party constitution that doesn't respect Islam as the religion of the federation, as well as bumiputera special rights.

The dedak eaters

Meanwhile, Abdul Hadi also used his closing speech to make veiled potshots against PAS splinter group Parti Amanah Negara and Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In one instance he did so after relating a story of how the 76,000 soldiers had deserted the armies of the prophet David (Daud) and Saul (Talut) as they marched to face Goliath (Jalud).

Abdul Hadi described the deserters as "pemakan dedak" (bribe takers).

"Those who left ate the dedak, those who remained steadfast did not. I did not coin this term makan dedak, but the one who did still lives.

"Who ate the dedak, Umno knows," he said.

The term "makan dedak" was popularised by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has accused PAS of being "dedak" eaters over their refusal to cooperate with the rest of the opposition.- Mkini