PARLIAMENT | PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang travelled back in time to when Sultan Muhammad Al-Fateh, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, reigned over the Ottoman empire in the mid-15th century.
In what appeared to be an obvious reference to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption case, the Marang MP argued in the Dewan Rakyat that there is no “discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA)” or executive interference in the administration of justice in Islamic jurisprudence.
To illustrate this point, Hadi cited the legend where Mehmed ordered the hand of a non-Muslim architect to be chopped off for failing to make the dome of the mosque he built bigger.
“The ruler was enraged and ordered for the architect’s hand to be chopped. This is a cruel punishment, a wrong punishment.
“The architect then complained to a famous judge at the time... the judge then summoned the ruler who was trialled under qisas,” said Hadi (above), in reference to a term under Islamic jurisprudence which prescribes a punishment proportionate to the crime.
However, the architect chose compensation for life instead of asking for the ruler’s hand to be chopped off as well.
Hadi said the incident revealed how Islam upholds the separation of powers and under qisas, the decision to pardon, demand equal action, or accept compensation is left to the discretion of the complainant.
“This happened, and this shows that there is no DNAA in Islam. There must be a punishment,” he stressed, which was followed by Perikatan Nasional MPs thumping their tables in support.
Hadi, who was debating the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review, noted that his attempts in the past to question the powers of the Pardons Board had courted police reports against him.
At this point, Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) stood up and asked the PAS president what would be the ruling in Islam for a person who allows a DNAA.
Hadi replied that a Muslim believes in the “human court” and “judgements in the afterlife”, and wrongdoers “freed on earth will not be spared in the latter”.
Fight against corruption
Earlier in his speech, Hadi said the nation is suffering from economic turmoil and accused the authorities of not prioritising the fight against corruption and leakages.
“Corruption must be fought diligently. Islam vehemently opposes corruption,” he added.
However, when PAS and Umno were part of the now-defunct alliance Muafakat Nasional, Hadi stressed the importance of electing Muslim leaders even if they lacked integrity.
“Integrity without Islam is not accepted by Allah, and a person with faith who has no integrity is still better than someone with integrity but no faith,” he had told the PAS Muktamar in 2019.
Last year, Hadi courted flak when he claimed that non-Muslims and non-bumiputera make up the bulk of the “roots of corruption” in Malaysia. - Mkini
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