PAS' integrity at an all-time low?

In my publication history, you’ll find more than a few articles arguing the benefits of a healthy, respectful relationship with PAS. I haven’t forgotten all the things I admire - or used to admire - about PAS.

It is quite unique as a political party. PAS members may be the only political party members in the nation who become members for reasons other than political motives, broadly defined.

PAS members often look at their membership and political activism as a response to a higher calling.

We cannot understate this difference. There are passionate activists from PKR, Bersatu, Umno, DAP, and so on, but on average, I don’t think they come anywhere near the religious fervour and conviction the PAS grassroots bring to the table.

To quite an extent, this fervent religious core was historically built upwards from the grassroots into the party leadership.

Is that the PAS of today though?

The PAS of today settled its RM90 million defamation suit in the UK after a protracted and expensive legal battle; it also admitted that PAS central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Aziz lied about a recording of his speech.

PAS appears to have responded to these scandals by digging themselves deeper and deeper into the grave - to the point where the party is becoming increasingly unrecognisable.

On Feb 2, PAS announced that it would settle its defamation suit in London, which accused Sarawak Report editor Claire Rewcastle-Brown of falsely accusing PAS of receiving RM 90 million from Umno.

Two days after that, friends started forwarding me photos of huge posters that were put up in Segamat, loudly and brazenly congratulating PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for his "victory" against Sarawak Report.

This should have set off the noses of political bloodhounds everywhere. In all my years, I can't remember ever seeing such a clear sign of political vulnerability.

No one in his right mind could interpret the results of Hadi’s settlement as a victory - not least because the original Sarawak Report article still stands published today, without a single alteration, retraction or apology. That seems almost as good as saying its contents are true.

Sadly for PAS, this modus operandi of twisting the truth beyond recognition is starting to become the norm rather than the exception.

Blatant lies

What started with this rather ridiculous proclamation of "victory" evolved next into even more ridiculous statements regarding how Nik Abduh (below) was caught making barefaced lies regarding an audio recording in which he discussed PAS receiving Umno funds.

The twists, turns and gymnastics by the PAS leadership on this issue were nothing short of mind-boggling. Indeed, my mind went past boggled into melting territory.

Statements by Hadi and PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hasan were bad enough but were fairly "standard" political doublespeak. The statement by Mursyidul Am Hashim Jasin, however, is of particular note, and especially disappointing.

No less than the spiritual leader of PAS, successor to Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat himself, argued that there was a religious justification for Nik Abduh lying.

The example used was that of Nuaym Masud. I am no Islamic scholar; but I consulted some of my colleagues who are much better educated than me on this topic.

Preliminary research suggests that lying is permissible in Islam when there are lives that are literally at stake.

An excerpt from ‘The Revival of the Religious Sciences’, written by 11th century Persian scholar Al-Ghazali states:

“Safeguarding of a Muslim’s life is a mandatory obligation that should be observed; and that lying is permissible when the shedding of a Muslim’s blood is at stake.”

One can extend this reasoning to the case of Nuaym Masud, whose actions were taken in the context of averting war. It would stretch credulity beyond its breaking point to suggest that Nik Abduh was compelled to lie because lives would otherwise have been lost.

The far more likely scenario is that Nik Abduh was simply presented with a recording of something he said that he knew would reflect poorly on himself, and simply chose the unethical path of lying to avoid the consequences.

PAS and others were right to criticise Deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya for attempting to pass off his degree as genuine. But surely Nik Abduh’s decision to lie and falsely deny his own voice is an equal or worse sin.

I am not a religious man, but surely honesty is a vital core value in Islam and in many other religions.

If a central committee member of PAS cannot adhere to this simplest of values, while his superiors fall over themselves trying to justify the unjustifiable, then to what dire level has the integrity of PAS fallen?

Tarnishing of PAS’ holy image

Far, surely, from the days of Nik Abduh’s late father, Nik Aziz - while not a perfect man, surely a beacon of integrity from PAS’ glory days. I think there was a reason why Nik Aziz was staunchly anti-Umno till the end of his life; have his teachings been so fast forgotten?

In retrospect, the decision of Amanah’s leaders to leave PAS was correct on a number of levels.

Sadly, it may also mean that there are no longer enough dissident leaders within PAS to speak up internally against the dishonesty pervading PAS’ top leadership today.

What befuddled game is PAS playing? PAS appears to be caught in a flurry of confusion and befuddlement regarding who its political allies are.

Let us give them the benefit of the doubt, and assume for the moment that PAS leaders are telling the truth when they say they met Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to pledge their support in the event of any attempt to remove Mahathir from power via Parliament.

If this is true, then what kind of game is PAS really playing?

On one hand, they go all out to support Umno candidates against Mahathir in parliamentary by-elections, on the other hand, they want to pledge support for Mahathir in parliament?

Surely they cannot have their cake and eat it too.

Yes, Malaysia’s present political dynamics are complex, but if one values one’s principles, then the more violent the political storm, the more one should stay faithful to one’s course.

Looking at the constant squirming and skulking from one side to another - invoking God and godly goals, while playing at God knows what - we can only conclude that this is not the PAS of yore.

It is one thing for Amanah president Mohamad Sabu to throw down his kopiah (skullcap) in anger; at this rate, the rest of the PAS party faithful will soon be doing the same en masse.

PAS is well within its rights to form a political party based on Islam, given the concept of Islam ad-Din-Islam as an all-encompassing way of life.

In doing so, however, they are arguably holding themselves to a much higher standard - the highest there is one could say.

If they want to convince more people that such an approach is best, perhaps they should consider bringing integrity and a clear political compass back to the centre of their political activism.

---

NATHANIEL TAN is director of media and communications at Emir Research, a think tank focused on data-driven policy research. - Mkini