PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has claimed that even the most wicked Muslim leaders are less oppressive than non-Muslim leaders, urging Muslim voters to turn out in the Melaka state election to ensure Islamic leadership governs the state.
Speaking at a joint Barisan Nasional (BN)-Perikatan Nasional (PN) campaign rally in Bukit Katil on Thursday night, the Marang MP told more than 1,000 supporters that Muslims must unite to secure political leadership.
“The most wicked of Muslims, the worst of Muslims governing the country, are not as oppressive as non-Muslims,” he said.
Abdul Hadi argued that Islamic politics was guided by the concepts of sin and reward, while non-Muslims did not operate under the same religious constraints.
“Because we do not come out to vote, others rule. They do as they please; they are unjust and do not fulfil the trust Allah has mandated. That is why Muslims must fulfil this obligation to lead all of humanity,” he said.
Warns against divisions among Muslim parties
Abdul Hadi also urged Muslims not to be divided politically, using a traditional proverb to illustrate how internal conflicts could benefit others.
“Muslims must not be divided, otherwise others will benefit. It is like a pestle and mortar pounding against each other. The harder they clash, the more chickens benefit. The chickens get to eat while we go hungry,” he said.
After the rally, Abdul Hadi told reporters that the BN-PN cooperation in Melaka was aimed at rebuilding Muslim unity rather than promoting Malay supremacy.
He expressed hope that the cooperation would continue into the next general election.
The joint campaign appearance brought PAS together with BN, a coalition Abdul Hadi had previously criticised in a 2023 column titled ‘When Liars, Thieves and Robbers Unite’, following BN’s decision to form a federal government with Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Previous remarks on non-Muslims
The latest remarks add to Abdul Hadi’s previous statements about non-Muslims in Malaysian politics.
In August 2022, he claimed in a Facebook post that non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras made up the majority of those driving corruption. The remarks prompted 28 police reports and a police investigation.
In October 2019, he wrote in Harakah Daily that handing political power to non-Muslims was forbidden in Islam.
The 16th Melaka state election will see 79 candidates contesting 28 state seats, with 687,697 eligible voters.
BN and PN are contesting all 28 seats without overlapping, while PH is fielding candidates in 24 seats. Parti Bersama Malaysia is contesting 16 seats, Bersatu seven and Putra one, with three independent candidates also in the race.
