INTERVIEW | Once asked to repent after being labelled an 'infidel' for leaving PAS to join Amanah, Azhar Ab Shukur is challenging his former party president Abdul Hadi Awang in the latter's stronghold of Marang.
In fact, Azhar expressed confidence that Pakatan Harapan could pull off an "interesting move" against Hadi come polling day on Nov 19.
Recalling his political journey with Amanah, the 57-year-old said he was a victim of the 'takfiri' belief propagated by PAS supporters who labelled their opponents as infidels or having committed an unforgivable sin tantamount to leaving the Muslim faith.
"I personally felt the impact when my own relatives asked me to repent as if I have committed the ultimate sin, like I have left Islam," Azhar (above) told Malaysiakini in an interview.
At the time, Azhar made his political debut as Amanah's candidate in the 2016 Sungai Besar by-election, going up against PAS' Abdul Rani Osman and BN's Budiman Mohd Zohdi who ultimately won.
In the ongoing GE15 campaign, the 'takfiri' belief to accuse others of abandoning the Muslim faith continue to be used against former PAS members who left to join other parties, notably Amanah, DAP and PKR as Pakatan Harapan.
Beyond politics, Azhar is a corporate figure with a religious academic background, having served as a deputy mufti in Cambodia.
In Marang, Azhar is also up against BN's Jasmira Othman and Pejuang's Dr Zarawi Sulong.
Hadi’s ‘decree’
Once again looking back on his early days with Amanah, Azhar said there were staunch PAS supporters who refused to acknowledge his greetings or shook his hand.
"That is among my personal experience due to Hadi's 'decrees'," he added.
According to Azhar, the view propagated by Hadi since the 1980s is widely accepted by most PAS supporters until today.
The height of PAS and Umno's political clash in the 1980s saw several major incidents leading up to Hadi's now infamous speech in Banggol Peradong, Kuala Terengganu, on April 7, 1981.
Notably in Terengganu, Hadi triggered a division among the local Malay communities who refused to attend functions hosted by those from their rival party; refused to pray behind an imam from their rival party; and even led to divorce cases.
Understanding the danger of such views, Azhar said Amanah had moved to set up its Nadwah Ulama Nahdah Jadidah Academy (Nunji) in 2015.
Through Nunji, he said Amanah aimed to spread the real meaning of Islam, with a focus on the religion's role as a blessing for all mankind.
"It is true that politics is a part of Islam, but it is not a subject where we cannot have any differences in opinion," he said.
It is with that understanding that Azhar said he started his campaign among Marang voters, who appear to welcome him, contrary to his initial expectations.
"What has happened throughout this campaign, they (voters) accept us and so far I have been to seven or eight different morning and night markets.
"In fact, there were those among them who already knew us. The same goes with our home visits," he said.
'Harapan still stands a chance against Hadi'
Azhar, while admitting that he faced an uphill battle against Hadi, remained optimistic about his chances.
"The previous Harapan candidate lost their deposit, but this time, insya-Allah that situation will not arise. Even the target to win this seat is attainable," he said.
As Marang MP, Hadi has been called out for having a low attendance record in Parliament, and Azhar claimed that Hadi has also been equally absent among his constituents.
"There are those who I met at the coffee shops here who said they have not seen him in years.
"That is why as a start I'm going down to meet the people, insya-Allah we try to overcome this problem, sit down and listen to them," he said.
While Hadi claimed his absence from Parliament was due to other priorities, Azhar said Marang voters would know better.
"If we listen to the people, if they want to see their elected representative (Hadi), then they would have to go and find him," said Azhar, adding that there are simple problems which remain unresolved. - Mkini
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