Hadi’s words against unity govt not linked to IS’ presence: PAS

KUALA LUMPUR – PAS has insisted that its president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s statements on the fall of the unity government were not linked to the reported presence of the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Malaysia.

The party’s spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasin said the perceived link was baseless and untrue, tarnishing PAS’ public image.

“This perceived link can be seen as a way to encourage the people’s negative views of PAS,” he told The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister publication Getaran yesterday.

Hashim said Hadi’s remarks only meant that the government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would not last long, despite having 148 parliamentarians in the Dewan Rakyat.

“I support Hadi. It’s a matter of time (before the unity government’s component parties) split.”

“We can see the comments by Penang Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy, who questioned the actions of his ‘partner’ in the government – Umno – creating unease among them.

“Therefore, we can predict that the unity government will not last, as there is bound to be infighting if elections are held.”

Yesterday, Hadi defended the opposition’s democratic right to overthrow the government, claiming that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree for a unity government is no stumbling block to such attempts. 

When pressed by reporters at the Parliament building yesterday on whether Perikatan Nasional (PN) is formulating strategies for a coup d’état, Hadi asserted that such a move is “normal” among opposition blocs in democratic nations. 

“We (PN) are trying (to overthrow the government) not just through general elections, but also through Parliament. 

“We have a right towards such plans. No one can stop us from planning (a coup),” he said. 

Commenting on claims that a coup contradicts the king’s proposal for a unity government, Hadi said that the Agong’s decree is not a “final say” in preventing democratic changes in the country. 

“Our constitutional monarchs are still bound by the federal constitution, which upholds democracy,” he said.

In defending his statement predicting the collapse of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, the Marang MP explained that it is “not impossible” for the government to fall as there are “signs of dissatisfaction” among the various compositions of the unity government.

He added that certain Bersatu leaders who had expressed their resignation in remaining in the opposition bloc can “change their stand” due to the “dynamic” nature of politics. 

Last week, Hadi told the lower House that the opposition should not be blamed if the government collapses again in similar fashion with the disintegration of the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in 2020. 

On Sunday, IS was reported to have launched a media platform in Malaysia, claiming its presence in the country.

Called the Al Malaka Media Centre, the group linked to IS media outlets in Indonesia and the Philippines is understood to be in direct support of a “radical political party and an established radical organisation”.

The Nordic Counter-Terrorism Network’s Cyber Counter-Terrorism Division, which identified Al Malaka Media Centre, revealed that the group’s content is available on the dark web.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the authorities have been aware of the group’s attempt at expanding its influence in Malaysia. – The Vibes, March 7, 2023