Wednesday, April 26, 2023

J-Kom chief: PAS no longer about compassion, just hatred against those who are different


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J-Kom chief: PAS no longer about compassion, just hatred against those who are different





Director-general of the Community Communication Department (J-Kom) Datuk Mohammad Agus Yusoff says he is really uncomfortable with PAS’ current politics. ― Picture via Twitter/Bernama

Wednesday, 26 Apr 2023 1:11 PM MYT



KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 — Datuk Mohammad Agus Yusoff has today slammed PAS for straying from its roots of fighting for social justice, to what he called as hunger for power to the point of manipulating religious sentiments and rhetoric.

The director-general of the Community Communication Department (J-Kom) under the Prime Minister’s Department gave the example of the Islamist party promising heaven for those who support them while threatening hell for those who are against it.


“I am really uncomfortable with PAS’ current politics. When we reprimand and criticise it, we're considered misguided and evil. When it used to view corruption as disgusting, now PAS calls it donation.

“There is no more compassion in PAS' politics. What is left is only hatred for those who are different from it,” the former professor wrote on Facebook.


He was responding to the criticisms by PAS' supporters after he raised three main issues in a Facebook post on Monday, following his recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri trip back to his home state in the state currently governed by the Islamist party.


He had mentioned the low and poor water pressure, badly maintained roads and the filthy environment due to garbage disposal issues in Kelantan — but was met with criticisms by who those who can stomach the issues as long as they are under a supposed Islamic administration.

“I think this kind of politics that PAS promotes should be rejected. I really hope that young people, as well as voters, who want our country to progress in harmony, reject this kind of politics.

“Our country needs to be safe for its people to live in peace. Fortunately, PAS did not come to power in the last general election,” he added.

Agus said PAS as a political party in the past was different from the present — he said while it used to defend truth, the party now just belittles it.

Mohammad Agus said he grew up in a PAS household and supported the party’s ideals throughout his adult life, despite not being a party member.

The former political analyst explained that the basis of his attraction to PAS then was simple as the party used to uphold Islamic justice and social justice, but now any criticisms against it would be attacked.

“We will be accused of rejecting Islam. We will then be called nasty names, where our character is tarnished and our mental strength drained.

"Aside from religion, PAS will use race and ethnicity issues that in the past were considered 'asabiyyah' and now needed to be rejected,” he said, using the Arabic term for “tribalism”.

PAS is currently part of the federal opposition Perikatan Nasional.

In a statement issued just a day before Muslims celebrate Aidilfitri, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had again accused the DAP of Islamophobia and communism as part of his regular scare-mongering aimed at the majority community.

2 comments:

  1. Hellfire and Brimstone to non-supporters.

    Very medieval mentality , PAS.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Frankly, I dislike the concept and setup of J-Kom, which is paid by public funds, but is essentially a propaganda outfit for the Government.
    Publicising and explaining facts on government policies is fine, but promoting the Government of the day, and disparaging the Opposition is not OK for an outfit underwritten by public funds.

    THAT is the job of PH's party political organisation.

    This is an objectionable hangover from Barisan Nasional, and Perikatan Nasional's bad governance framework.
    I remember Puad Zakarshi, UMNO's attack dog, was the head of JASA, the previously named government outfit during Najib's Admiistration.
    He is still playing the role, but under UMNO, which is fine in terms of governance.

    Anwar Ibrahim should have dissolved J-Kom or strictly restricted its functions to disseminating objective information, not political activity.

    ReplyDelete