Are the Malays torn in between supporting liberal UMNO-PH and fanatic PAS-Bersatu?

 

THE Malays are surely a confused lot for in the midst of them dispelling the PAS’ version of anti-government/Malay ruler jihad (holy war) and martyrdom (mati syahid) expounded by the Islamist party’s life member and celebrity preacher Ustaz Azhar Idrus, its president Tan Sri Hadi Awang has claimed that politics of lies and materialism are still prevalent in UMNO.

This certainly makes fence-sitting Malays split for choice although there is little doubt that many grassroots UMNO members would have swung to either PAS or Bersatu – both being component parties of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition – on grounds that UMNO has failed to uphold its “No DAP, No Anwar” stance following formation of the unity government.

In his latest Minda Presiden PAS rambling which is embellished with Quranic verses, Hadi has taken a swipe at UMNO by attributing money politics as the root cause of the dominant Malay party’s collapse, particularly in the May 2018 14th General Election (GE14) after having been in power for over six decades.

In the Marang MP’s contention, money politics which has even spilled over into all levels of UMNO’s party election have eventually transformed into a disease within the Malay Muslim community by making them victims of political corruption that destroys the religion and the nation.

PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang

“Now, the damaged UMNO alongside Pakatan Harapan (PH) continues to foster the principle and concept of materialism as their main agenda to uphold and defend the Madani government,” Hadi hit out. “It is used as a weapon in more ways than the Dajjal (a false prophet in Islamic theology comparable to the Anti-Christ).”

Hadi further claimed that the UMNO-PH alliance “is buying the people with money and materialism” in return for their support while at the same time oppressing the opposition by denying financial allocations that are required according to both the Islamic teaching and democratic practice.

“This is even when they have taxed everyone, including the opposition. So, it is proven that they are worse than the Dajjal who does not collect taxes,” asserted the PAS lawmaker. “PH on its own is deceiving with its Rahmah Menu slogan by exploiting to the true nature of Allah, the Most Merciful, whose mercy is abundant.” – Focus Malaysia