Amanah: Hadi dissing Harapan's PM candidate to flatter Najib

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's incessant attacks against parties that name their prime ministerial candidates for the coming election are only meant to flatter Prime Minister Najib Razak, claimed an Amanah leader.

Amanah syariah director Zolkharnain Abidin said Hadi's statement last week was backward and upside down, and only helped breathe life into Umno as the 14th general election draws closer.

On Friday, Hadi (photo) claimed the practice of naming an interim prime minister went against the Prophet Muhammad's teachings.

“Najib will surely be relieved with Hadi's statement, as if only he himself has the right to remain the prime minister.

“And his position to remain as PM is in line with Islam, because naming anyone else to replace him would go against Islamic practices,” Zolkharnain said in a statement today.

Zolkharnain also questioned which Islamic principles would be contravened by naming a candidate.

“The practice is not treachery, not deceit, not manipulation, but merely a proof of commitment by the party that names the person who will serve the people to the best of his efforts,” he added.

Zolkharnain said if PAS doesn't want to name their candidate, Hadi should nevertheless not put down those who do by saying it goes against Islam.

'PAS has done the same'

Yesterday, preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin slammed Hadi over his statement, reminding the PAS chief himself had once proposed Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as then Pakatan Rakyat's prime ministerial candidate prior to the 13th general election.

Pointing out Hadi's inconsistent statements, Wan Ji also noted how PAS had suggested its own leaders as candidates for Selangor menteri besar during the protracted state crisis, following former menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim's refusal to quit.

Meanwhile, Zolkharnain further cited views arguing the hadith that Hadi had quoted to support the latter's criticisms did not refer to any issue of naming a potential leader or prime minister.

“The hadith was concerned with seeking positions,” he said, which is different from naming an individual for the benefit of voters to make their choice.- Mkini