KUALA LUMPUR: Pas Syura Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali today criticised opposition leader Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for recycling accusations and slander towards the party throughout his 22-year tenure as prime minister.
"This old timer has never repented," Khairuddin wrote on his Facebook page, adding that Dr Mahathir's main target was the "Amanat Haji Hadi", an excerpt of Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's public address in Kampung Banggol, Kuala Terengganu in 1981, which was used as documented proof in investigations of the 1985 Memali incident.
Copies of the excerpt, citing the opposition party's rebellion against Umno and the Barisan Nasional government as "jihad" (struggle against the enemies of Islam), were widely displayed at the Pas headquarters and offices in 1981.
"The Amanat was a response to the contemporary thought of the leadership of the time, such as Dr Mahathir whose practice of "politik suku, agama suku" (separation of politics and religion) was against the principles of Islam. Islam cannot be separated from politics," said Khairuddin.
He said the Amanat had outlined the perimeters of faith and beliefs.
"It is not the job of the missionaries to denounce Muslim individuals but it is their responsibility to clarify the causes that can lead to one denouncing the religion," he said.
"The Memali tragedy was caused by the tyranny of the government at that time, of which Dr Mahathir was its leader," said Khairuddin.
He claimed local Pas leader Ibrahim Mahmud, popularly known as Ibrahim Libya and his followers were defending themselves against the authorities.
"Unfortunately, Dr Mahathir is still trying to hide the elephant in his closet." said Khairuddin.