PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said today that genuine reforms do not require two full terms in office, stressing that sincere leadership can deliver meaningful change much faster.
Reforms Do Not Need a Decade
Speaking during the debate on the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat, the Marang MP argued that true reform can happen quickly when leaders are committed.
He pointed to Caliph Umar Abdul Aziz of the Umayyad dynasty, who he said carried out sweeping reforms in just about two years.
“The sincerity to become a model of reform does not need two terms. If it takes two terms, it is not reform but ‘reforkerusi’ – a play on reform and corruption, where people take turns grabbing positions,” Hadi said.
“After one person, then another. If comprehensive reforms are not carried out, it becomes empty talk.”
A full parliamentary term in Malaysia lasts five years, so two terms would cover a decade. The current unity government is in its fourth year, with the next general election due by mid-February 2028.
Leaders Must Set the Example
Hadi emphasised that Islam calls on leaders to lead by personal example, as government machinery tends to follow the direction set from the top.
“But if leaders fail to set the right example, the damage will spread throughout the system,” he added.
He urged leaders to act with integrity so that the entire administration reflects those values.
Criticism of Selective Enforcement
Hadi also accused the government of operating a “selective law” approach, particularly when handling corruption cases.
He argued that the law must punish not only bribe-takers but also those who offer bribes and the middlemen involved.
“Yet this is not being done. This weakness in enforcement causes the government’s umbrella to leak,” he said.
“Those who support the government are protected, while those who do not are punished. In this way, the government ends up shielding corrupt individuals. To stay safe, one must support the government,” he claimed.
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