CAN PR STOMACH SUCH AN 'ALLY'? Vengeful Hadi calls own Selangor duo 'lackeys' for supporting Azizah

After two full days of tense debates at the 60th PAS muktamar, most party leaders today adopted a conciliatory tone in their winding-up speeches.

However, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who was the last to speak, turned the heat back up, describing two of the party's Selangor state assemblypersons as "lackeys".

Hadi, in his final speech at the muktamar, accused PKR of "stealing" and "buying" two of its assemblypersons, making it possible for the party along with DAP to claim a commanding majority in the Selangor state assembly.

“We do not take lightly the two state assemblypersons who were willing to cross over, there are those who became brokers and those who became lackeys,” he told delegates in Batu Pahat, Johor.

He said this in reference to Saari Sungib (Hulu Kelang) and Hasnul Baharuddin (Morib) who had backed PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as Selangor menteri besar.

“Did not all of our state assemblypersons take a religious oath?” he said.

His stinging remarks came shortly after party leaders took pains in their winding-up speeches, urging delegates to close ranks in the Selangor MB crisis.

Hadi said political cooperation in Islam allows one to ally with "minor enemies" to fight off greater enemies, but he did not specify who he meant.

"Asking for help from minor enemies to fight stronger enemies is allowed according to Islamic principles," he said.

He added that PAS has fundamental differences with allies PKR and DAP but they should not interfere in the policies of each other.

"PAS is based on Islam, PKR is based on secular pragmatism, DAP is secular socialists - we are not from the same party.

"But (some want) political cooperation as if we are one party, they want to eat and sleep together.

"This is wrong. There are limits to political cooperation," he stressed.

'Condemned to hell'

Hadi added that PAS did not agree with PKR and DAP on several issues such as local elections which, he said, can cause racial tension.

He added even on the use of the word 'Allah', PAS only supported its use without confusing Muslims while PKR and DAP were more liberal with their stance.

Nonetheless, Hadi said PAS will still cooperate with Pakatan so long as Islamic principles are not contravened.

Elaborating on the Selangor crisis, Hadi said PAS did not covet the menteri besar's position but was forced to intervene as it involves Muslims affairs.

"Anyone who manages Muslim affairs, if they appoint someone due to favour and not because of qualification or sense of responsibility, that is if they simply appoint, Allah will not forgive them until they are condemned to hell.

"I do not want PAS members to be condemned to hell. Therefore, we needed to intervene in this matter.

"Do not take this matter lightly, there must be responsibility. Political strategy must look at responsibly and in light of Allah's acceptance," he said.

Hadi had overruled the PAS central committee's endorsement of PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her deputy Azmin Ali as candidates for the post.

Instead, Hadi submitted his own name list to the Selangor palace for consideration, which included a PAS representative. -M'kini