Memali incident weaponised against Hadi after signing Dr M's proclamation

Memali incident weaponised against Hadi after signing Dr M's proclamation


The 1985 Memali incident - which claimed 18 lives - is being weaponised on social media to attack PAS and its president, Abdul Hadi Awang.

This comes after Hadi and other PAS’ top leaders signed a pro-Malay proclamation being championed by Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Memali incident refers to a stand-off between the supporters of PAS member and preacher, Ibrahim Mahmud, better known as Ibrahim Libya, and police in Baling, Kedah.

A clash between them left 14 civilians and four police personnel dead, including Ibrahim.

PAS has blamed Mahathir for the incident, while the former premier believed it was actually Hadi’s fault - claiming the latter instigated militancy through his 1981 "Amanat Hadi".

This blame game is one of the main elements in the social media content attacking Hadi and PAS for allegedly cosying up to Mahathir by signing the latter’s "Malay People's Proclamation".

In particular, there are several iterations of a video of a Memali victim’s son, Mohamad Zuhdi Mat Piah, bashing those who used to stand by the victims but were now “menjilat” (brown-nosing) Mahathir.

The videos had been edited to include visuals of Hadi meeting with the former premier, giving the impression that Zuhdi is criticising the PAS president.

However, checks by Malaysiakini found this to be disinformation.

Zuhdi’s video and lament was actually from 2018, and was aimed at Amanah leaders Mohamad Sabu, Salahuddin Ayub and Mahfuz Omar.

The former PAS trio were among those who had blamed Mahathir for the Memali incident but had allied with him for the 2018 polls.

In a Facebook post last Monday, Zuhdi - who is the Selangor PAS treasurer - decried the recent misuse of his video.

He also said Hadi’s actions in supporting Mahathir are not the same as what the Amanah leaders did in 2018.

“The meeting with Mahathir was to collect the voices of Malay-Muslim leaders. Mahathir has no power, it is not to install Mahathir as prime minister.

“Not just Mahathir, any leader that does good for Malays and the people should be supported,” he said, before needling Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to lower fuel prices.

Meanwhile, besides Zuhdi videos, footage of former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam denying that Mahathir was abroad when the Memali incident took place is also making the rounds.


READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | Dusting off history books on Memali tragedy


Besides videos, the Memali incident weaponisation is also taking place on Facebook and Twitter.

In one post on May 4, BN communications chief coordinator Shafiq Fhadly questioned the emotional impact of Hadi working together with Mahathir.

“If cooperation between Hadi and Mahathir takes off, one wonders how PAS members who were affected by the Memali incident would feel,” he said.


The use of the Memali incident for politicking marks the second time since GE15 that a tragic incident of bloodshed from the country’s past has been weaponised on social media.

In the aftermath of GE15, several videos warning of a repeat of the May 13, 1969, racial riots and that Malays would lose power went viral on Tiktok.

At least three of those videos were paid for.