Welfare state not against notion of Islamic state, says Tuan Ibrahim

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said history showed that any party which allied itself with DAP would be rejected by Malay voters. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: PAS’s previous battle cry for a welfare state does not go against its push for an Islamic state, the party’s deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said.

“It (the push for a welfare state) was not meant to replace or change the cause PAS is championing for,” he told FMT.

“The welfare state slogan was discussed in depth by the party (then).”

Ads by Kiosked

Tuan Ibrahim said this in response to claims by Amanah president Mohamad Sabu that PAS had in the past agreed to DAP’s request that the notion of “Negara Islam” not be used. PAS then replaced “Islamic state” with “welfare state”, Mohamad said.

“PAS was willing to forgo the ‘Negara Islam’ notion and replace it. Did any PAS leader mention this? Why (are they) hiding this fact?” Mohamad asked at a ceramah in Simpang Jeram, Johor, last night.

Mohamad said PAS had agreed to the condition in the run-up to the 2008 general election, when there were efforts to form an alliance between the three parties after PAS left Barisan Alternatif following its defeat in the 1999 general election.

PAS, PKR and DAP later formed Pakatan Rakyat, the then opposition coalition. Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, was then with PAS.

Tuan Ibrahim said PAS had never abandoned its Islamic cause and had implemented Islamic policies after negotiations with all sides.

He claimed history had shown that any party which allied itself with DAP would be rejected by Malay voters.

Ads by Kiosked

“Just look at the decline in support for PKR, Amanah and even Umno after they cooperated with DAP.” - FMT