KUALA LUMPUR: PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has dropped a bombshell by accusing the DAP of “inviting” the United States and other foreign countries to interfere in the country’s political affairs.
Hadi launched a broadside at the DAP and chastised the party over its opposition to Pas’s bid to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) to empower the syariah courts.
He also criticised the DAP for questioning why Pas held discussions with Umno on the proposed amendments to the act.
“I told them (DAP), why can’t Pas hold discussions with Umno to implement syariah laws when the Penang government (under DAP) held discussions with the Federal Government on the Penang bridge and other projects.
“We (Pas) can hold discussions with whoever we like to implement Islamic law.
“We are unlike DAP, which held discussions with the US and other foreign nations to change Malaysian politics.
“We will not go to the extent of inviting foreign powers to interfere in Malaysian politics,” he said during a ceramah at Masjid Rusila mosque in Marang on Monday.
Hadi, who is also Marang member of parliament, said it was up to Malaysians to decide on changes, and that there was no need to invite the US or other foreign nations into Malaysian politics.
He also described DAP as an offshoot, or “droppings”, of Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
Hadi also claimed he had received information that the protest by DAP against the tabling of his private member’s bill to amend Act 355 had the backing of missionaries.
He said foreign agents comprising missionaries had wanted to spread their faith, and feared that the implementation of Islamic law would enable non-Muslims to see the fairness of sentences meted out under syariah law.
Hadi could not be reached to clarify his claims.
A DAP lawmaker, however, dismissed Hadi’s allegations as “utter rubbish”.
“We are a political party that commits to democracy.
“We don’t need any backing from any country, religion or missionaries.
“I think Hadi is living in his own imagination and fantasy,” Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok told the New Straits Times yesterday.
She also said DAP was undeterred by Hadi’s statement, saying her party had no desire to reconcile with Pas after both parties severed ties in 2015 over Hadi’s private member’s bill.
“What else to say? Pas is not in the coalition of Pakatan Harapan.
“We don’t have any intention to invite them to join us and Pas has no intention to join us too,” she said.
Meanwhile, former Pas vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar urged Hadi to clarify his claims as they involved a “sensitive matter”.
“If the Pas president is raising this sensitive matter, then he should reveal more about this sensitive issue.
“Don’t say something that could leave a negative perception on Pas.
“What he said is something negative towards DAP.
“He should explain when and where these discussions (between DAP and foreign countries) took place,” he told the NST yesterday.
He added that Hadi’s accusations, if left unexplained, could create hatred among the country’s multireligious society.
Pas election director Datuk Mustafa Ali, however, denied having any knowledge of DAP’s supposed discussions with foreign nations to meddle in the country’s affairs.