All multi-coloured freedom lights will shut down, plunging M’sia into new dark era with Hadi as PM
By Phlip Rodrigues
IN RECENT days, PAS has been touting Tan Sri Hadi Awang as prime ministerial candidate if the party wins the next general election.
Just imagine: PAS sweeps to power and Hadi succeeds Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya.
Indeed, “a new face of national politics will emerge” with ascension of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS).
After decades in the political wilderness, the Islamist party has reached the pinnacle of national power with its top leadership thinking that it could implement its national agenda with impunity.
But hold it. What is its signature political menu? To establish an Islamic state with an Islamic government at the helm?
Is this what the people desire? Do they want to be ruled by politicians whose theological conservatism and racially-charged outlook may sound the death knell for all the values and aspirations and dreams we cherish in a plural civil society?
Islamic state
PAS is offering a choice to the voters: either choose an Islamic state or a liberal state. It is perhaps supremely confident that the majority of the Malays will opt for an Islamic state.
As far as PAS is concerned, the non-Malays do not feature at all in its masterplan to turn the country into a state where religion reigns supreme.
As long as the majority is keen on setting up such a state, PAS believes Hadi is the candidate best suited to take charge of the destiny of more than 34 million people.
According to the party of God, the seven-term Marang MP has all the qualifications to step up to the plate. But is he acceptable to the sizeable population of non-Malays considering that for decades he is synonymous with the politics of hate towards them?
Let’s assume Hadi is the PM. What model will he choose for Malaysia? Will he go the way of some Islamic countries where women are suppressed and are denied access to education?
Will Hadi choose to re-designate himself as the Supreme Leader who has the ultimate authority, thus leaving his PM post, perhaps, to his deputy Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man?
PAS has not spelled out in detail the framework of the Islamic state it wishes to impose on Malaysia. But it is common knowledge that under an Islamic government, the laws of the land are based on the syariah where penalties meted out can be very severe.
Since God’s laws are supreme, it can be surmised that our Federal Constitution will no longer be relevant because these are man-made laws. How can Man challenge God? In difficult situations, PAS will leave it to God – not Man – to decide the best possible solutions.
Not trustworthy
Being the wily politician that he is, Hadi can whistle a different tune or wear a sheep’s clothing or dance a slow waltz or joget to lure the non-Malays to his new world but it will not change the indisputable fact that – at heart – he sees them all as infidels.
Even his followers, schooled in Hadi’s academy of hate and racism, look with contempt on non-Malays with one young PAS MP reportedly likening them to pigs.
Perhaps, Hadi may introduce his Islamic state with Malaysian characteristics like banning all concerts featuring foreign artistes (bad influence on youths), prohibiting karaoke (harmful to moral conduct) and forbidding gambling (4D betting is a bane on society).
Or disallowing handshakes with women (not good for the integrity of the party leadership), shutting down cinemas (they cause social ills), outlawing Christmas decorations and carol performances in public places (violate religious sensitivities), and placing many more restrictions on the Malaysian way of life.
By right, in this 21st century, Malaysia should be moving into the modern age of science and technology to strengthen its economy so that people of all races and creeds can enjoy the fruits of development.
But PAS wants to put a brake on this forward march to a more prosperous nation with its austere form of government. Indeed, the happy smile of Malaysia will be wiped out once the scowling face of Hadi looks down on the peninsula.
As soon as Hadi takes the oath of office as the Malaysia’s 11th Prime Minister, all the multi-coloured lights of freedom will be switched off – plunging the country into a new dark era of bigotry, insularity and dogmatism. – Jan 24, 2025
Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.
IN RECENT days, PAS has been touting Tan Sri Hadi Awang as prime ministerial candidate if the party wins the next general election.
Just imagine: PAS sweeps to power and Hadi succeeds Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya.
Indeed, “a new face of national politics will emerge” with ascension of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS).
After decades in the political wilderness, the Islamist party has reached the pinnacle of national power with its top leadership thinking that it could implement its national agenda with impunity.
But hold it. What is its signature political menu? To establish an Islamic state with an Islamic government at the helm?
Is this what the people desire? Do they want to be ruled by politicians whose theological conservatism and racially-charged outlook may sound the death knell for all the values and aspirations and dreams we cherish in a plural civil society?
Islamic state
PAS is offering a choice to the voters: either choose an Islamic state or a liberal state. It is perhaps supremely confident that the majority of the Malays will opt for an Islamic state.
As far as PAS is concerned, the non-Malays do not feature at all in its masterplan to turn the country into a state where religion reigns supreme.
As long as the majority is keen on setting up such a state, PAS believes Hadi is the candidate best suited to take charge of the destiny of more than 34 million people.
According to the party of God, the seven-term Marang MP has all the qualifications to step up to the plate. But is he acceptable to the sizeable population of non-Malays considering that for decades he is synonymous with the politics of hate towards them?
Let’s assume Hadi is the PM. What model will he choose for Malaysia? Will he go the way of some Islamic countries where women are suppressed and are denied access to education?
Will Hadi choose to re-designate himself as the Supreme Leader who has the ultimate authority, thus leaving his PM post, perhaps, to his deputy Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man?
PAS has not spelled out in detail the framework of the Islamic state it wishes to impose on Malaysia. But it is common knowledge that under an Islamic government, the laws of the land are based on the syariah where penalties meted out can be very severe.
Since God’s laws are supreme, it can be surmised that our Federal Constitution will no longer be relevant because these are man-made laws. How can Man challenge God? In difficult situations, PAS will leave it to God – not Man – to decide the best possible solutions.
Not trustworthy
Being the wily politician that he is, Hadi can whistle a different tune or wear a sheep’s clothing or dance a slow waltz or joget to lure the non-Malays to his new world but it will not change the indisputable fact that – at heart – he sees them all as infidels.
Even his followers, schooled in Hadi’s academy of hate and racism, look with contempt on non-Malays with one young PAS MP reportedly likening them to pigs.
Perhaps, Hadi may introduce his Islamic state with Malaysian characteristics like banning all concerts featuring foreign artistes (bad influence on youths), prohibiting karaoke (harmful to moral conduct) and forbidding gambling (4D betting is a bane on society).
Or disallowing handshakes with women (not good for the integrity of the party leadership), shutting down cinemas (they cause social ills), outlawing Christmas decorations and carol performances in public places (violate religious sensitivities), and placing many more restrictions on the Malaysian way of life.
By right, in this 21st century, Malaysia should be moving into the modern age of science and technology to strengthen its economy so that people of all races and creeds can enjoy the fruits of development.
But PAS wants to put a brake on this forward march to a more prosperous nation with its austere form of government. Indeed, the happy smile of Malaysia will be wiped out once the scowling face of Hadi looks down on the peninsula.
As soon as Hadi takes the oath of office as the Malaysia’s 11th Prime Minister, all the multi-coloured lights of freedom will be switched off – plunging the country into a new dark era of bigotry, insularity and dogmatism. – Jan 24, 2025
Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.
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