'Gold, drugs may be planted': Hadi fears sabotage if PM pick revealed
Published: Oct 15, 2025 2:18 PM
Updated: 6:09 PM
PARLIAMENT | PAS has refrained from naming its prime ministerial candidate out of fear that the individual could be sabotaged with “gold bars or drugs” planted in their vehicle, said party president Abdul Hadi Awang.
“Some may ask why we haven’t announced our prime minister candidate yet… My answer is simple: what matters most is choosing a leader with integrity. We haven’t decided on the person yet. What’s important is that they win the election first.
“Why not name earlier? For safety reasons, it can be dangerous. If people know who the candidate is, they might try to bribe them with gold bars, or plant gold bars and drugs in the car, making the person ineligible to contest,” he said while debating Budget 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Although Bersatu has named its president Muhyiddin Yassin - who also chairs Perikatan Nasional - as its choice for prime minister, there are signs that PAS, which holds the most seats among the coalition’s parties, may have other plans.
There is speculation that the Islamist party is believed to be leaning towards supporting Muhyiddin’s deputy and parliamentary opposition leader, Hamzah Zainudin, for the post.
Hadi further fuelled speculation last month when he remarked that leaders above the age of 70 should not become prime minister. Muhyiddin is 78, while Hamzah is 68.
Updated: 6:09 PM
PARLIAMENT | PAS has refrained from naming its prime ministerial candidate out of fear that the individual could be sabotaged with “gold bars or drugs” planted in their vehicle, said party president Abdul Hadi Awang.
“Some may ask why we haven’t announced our prime minister candidate yet… My answer is simple: what matters most is choosing a leader with integrity. We haven’t decided on the person yet. What’s important is that they win the election first.
“Why not name earlier? For safety reasons, it can be dangerous. If people know who the candidate is, they might try to bribe them with gold bars, or plant gold bars and drugs in the car, making the person ineligible to contest,” he said while debating Budget 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Although Bersatu has named its president Muhyiddin Yassin - who also chairs Perikatan Nasional - as its choice for prime minister, there are signs that PAS, which holds the most seats among the coalition’s parties, may have other plans.
There is speculation that the Islamist party is believed to be leaning towards supporting Muhyiddin’s deputy and parliamentary opposition leader, Hamzah Zainudin, for the post.
Hadi further fuelled speculation last month when he remarked that leaders above the age of 70 should not become prime minister. Muhyiddin is 78, while Hamzah is 68.
Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin (left) and parliamentary opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin
The Marang MP made the comment when asked if he was ready to offer himself as PN’s prime ministerial candidate.
“The Quran says to choose leaders who are knowledgeable, have integrity, and are physically fit.
“People like me are no longer qualified. The healthiest and most capable ones are those below 70 years old who can serve as prime minister. Let the strong take the lead,” said the 77-year-old politician.
Protest against Trump the ‘great devil’
Meanwhile, Hadi told Parliament this afternoon that PAS would continue to oppose the visit of United States President Donald Trump to Kuala Lumpur for the upcoming Asean Summit at the end of the month.
He said the party would mobilise a massive street protest against Trump’s visit, describing the US president as a “great devil”.
Hadi emphasised that Trump’s open support for Israel’s atrocities made him unworthy of being invited.
“I consider him a great devil, a deceiver, one who supports a regime cursed by Allah SWT. For that reason, I stress that we will mobilise the people to protest in the strongest possible terms against this visit,” he said, concluding his debate.
The Marang MP made the comment when asked if he was ready to offer himself as PN’s prime ministerial candidate.
“The Quran says to choose leaders who are knowledgeable, have integrity, and are physically fit.
“People like me are no longer qualified. The healthiest and most capable ones are those below 70 years old who can serve as prime minister. Let the strong take the lead,” said the 77-year-old politician.
Protest against Trump the ‘great devil’
Meanwhile, Hadi told Parliament this afternoon that PAS would continue to oppose the visit of United States President Donald Trump to Kuala Lumpur for the upcoming Asean Summit at the end of the month.
He said the party would mobilise a massive street protest against Trump’s visit, describing the US president as a “great devil”.
Hadi emphasised that Trump’s open support for Israel’s atrocities made him unworthy of being invited.
“I consider him a great devil, a deceiver, one who supports a regime cursed by Allah SWT. For that reason, I stress that we will mobilise the people to protest in the strongest possible terms against this visit,” he said, concluding his debate.
Hadi is still a spring chicken.
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