Hadi: PAS is mature, unlike 'shallow' parties

PAS practices mature and peaceful politics unlike their "dangkal" (shallow) opposition counterparts, said party president Abdul Hadi Awang.

In a veiled attack on Pakatan Harapan and its leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad today, he said PAS was facing slander and lies by those who practiced "shallow" politics.

For instance, Hadi said there were those who accused PAS of playing the role of the "spoiler" although the party had a longer history than most.

"The person who said this is from a party that was just recently formed and wanted to use PAS [...] they want to take advantage of PAS' machinery and accuse PAS of playing the role of the spoiler.

"This is not mature and peaceful politics," he said.

Hadi then took a jab at Mahathir, his party Bersatu and ally DAP by accusing them of being forgetful.

"Only Malays who mudah lupa (forget easily) accept such allegations. Or non-Malays who want to see chaos by disrespecting the Muslims who accepted them into a plural and peaceful society," he said.

Such people, said Hadi, had forgotten that Mahathir was the "champion of money politics" who had corrupted the country and his former party Umno.

Hadi also said, "shallow politicians" were accusing him of receiving RM90 million from Umno and insinuated that this accusation was done through the London-based whistleblower website Sarawak Report.

"They threw a stone from the UK and hid their hands, forcing PAS to take pains to take legal action there.

"It is akin to a cassowary, a desert animal with a big body, hiding its head in the sand. It is silly because its large and hairy body can still be clearly seen," he said in a statement.

Hadi was referring to a giant bird which is native to the tropical jungles of New Guinea and northeastern Australia. It is, however, not known to bury its head in the sand nor live in deserts.

Won't be mean

Regardless, Hadi said PAS' mature and peaceful politics would continue during the election campaign and it was not aimed at "revenge".

"Even if we lose, we will be an opposition that advises (the government) and not be mean towards our opponents.

"We in PAS are not allowed to judge others by making assumptions and we will not say 'if we win, we'll do this and that' generously (unlike others)," he said. -Mkini