Hadi’s son replaces dad to appear with Najib at rally

PUTRAJAYA: The much anticipated appearance of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang at the “Save Jerusalem” rally attended by Prime Minister Najib Razak today did not materialise.

Instead, Hadi, whose huge portrait appeared side by side with Najib on the backdrop of the stage, was represented by his son Khalil Abdul Hadi, who is also PAS Youth chief.

Khalil was on stage together with Najib and other top Umno leaders, where they addressed some 2,000 people holding banners to protest President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

It was to be Hadi and Najib’s third major appearance together since 2015. In the wake of closer ties between PAS and Umno, leaders from both parties have agreed to set aside their political differences to work together on issues affecting Muslims.

When met, Khalil did not explain his father’s absence at today’s rally.

“Insha Allah, he will attend future programmes,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, Najib in his speech said his “close ties” with Trump would not stop him from opposing the decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

“I will not forsake the sanctity and the importance of Islam. Jerusalem is the third holiest city in Islam. It is our responsibility to stand up for our religion, and to stay united.

“Others have a choice, but for us (Muslims) it is our duty to defend the Islamic faith,” said Najib.

He added that he longed for the day when he could perform prayer at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem “without having to ask permission from the Zionist soldiers”.

“They stop the youths from praying in the mosque. I do not wish to perform my prayers under such circumstances,” he said.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had arrived to perform Friday prayers at the same mosque, but he did not take part in the rally.

Hours earlier, Mahathir wrote on his blog that the solidarity shown by Umno and PAS in the Jerusalem issue was meaningless unless it “results in the BN government acting against Donald Trump and the United States”.

“Opposition parties can only demonstrate. But governments can act meaningfully,” he said.

Mahathir also issued a challenge to Najib to rescind his declaration of support to Trump in September, when he said Washington’s enemy “is our enemy too”.

“The US regards Palestine as an enemy of the United States. Malaysia must assure the world that Palestine is not our enemy, that we are in favour of Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine,” said Mahathir. -FMT