[UPDATED] Stop changing fatwas: Zahid blasts Hadi for calling GE15 handouts ‘charity’

KUALA LUMPUR – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called out his PAS counterpart Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang for purportedly altering fatwas (Islamic legal edicts) based merely on his whims and fancies. 

This is after Hadi recently defended cash handouts given to voters during the 15th general election as a “charitable act”.

Zahid lambasted the Marang MP for being hypocritical and lacking the integrity required of religious figures. 

“If he does it, it’s called ‘sedekah’ (charity), but if we do it, it’s corruption,” he told reporters when met after attending MCA’s Chinese New Year open house today. 

“These ulamas must stop altering the law and fatwas. In the end, the ulamas involved in politics will not be respected by the public and the Muslim community. 

“Ulamas must have integrity, don’t keep changing fatwas,” he added.

Zahid was responding to a statement by Hadi describing the cash handouts distributed to PAS supporters during the recent election as mere charity and therefore not against election rules. 

The political veteran also claimed that the alms were courtesy of public donations and not from election candidates. 

Previously, Barisan Nasional had filed election petitions for three parliamentary seats alleging vote-buying during the campaigning period, including for the Marang seat held by Hadi. 

The two other seats are Kuala Terengganu, which was won by Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim, and Kemaman, currently held by Che Alias Hamid, both PAS lawmakers. 

The election petitions were filed on January 3 at the Kuala Terengganu High Court, in accordance with the Election Offences Act 1954. – The Vibes, January 22, 2023