PAS president Tuan Guru Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has urged voters to support a political formula built around cooperation between Pas, Umno, and “non-extreme” non-Muslim parties, including MCA and MIC, as he called for a wider unity movement to “save Malaysia.”
In a Facebook post today, Abdul Hadi said the approach was based on the principles of unity and cooperation between Malay Muslims, bumiputera communities and non-Muslims who, he said, did not adopt extreme positions.
“PAS calls for change that follows the example of Prophet Muhammad and is based on the strength of unity between Muslims and non-Muslims who are not extreme.
“This should begin with Pas together with Umno, Barisan Nasional, Malay-Muslim groups and non-Muslim parties that are not extreme, such as MCA, MIC, the Dewan Himpunan Pendukung Pas (DHPP) and others,” he said.
He added that the cooperation should eventually extend to Sabah and Sarawak as part of efforts to “save Malaysia.”
“This should then be followed by Sarawak and Sabah to save our beloved Malaysia.”
Ustaz Abdul Hadi said that, in the Malaysian context, Malay Muslims should play a leading role as they form the majority of the country’s Muslim population.
He urged voters to reject what he described as “unnatural Malay groups” that cooperate with DAP, claiming such groups represented secular and extreme elements that could threaten Malay and Islamic interests.
“In Malaysia, Malay Muslims must lead because they dominate the Muslim population.
“The existence of different races is part of Allah’s creation to test humanity. Reject unnatural Malay groups that are with DAP, namely fanatical secular and extreme chauvinist groups that threaten Islam and the Malay community,” he said.
However, he said this position was not based on racial fanaticism, but on what he described as Islam’s obligation to uphold justice for all communities.
His remarks come amid closer cooperation between Pas and Umno in the Negri Sembilan election, where Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional have avoided direct clashes in the distribution of seats.
The arrangement has raised questions over whether the cooperation could evolve into a wider political realignment ahead of the 16th General Election.
In Negri Sembilan, BN is contesting 25 of the 36 state seats, while PN is fielding candidates in 11 constituencies. Pas is contesting five seats under the PN banner.
The cooperation has also sparked debate within Pakatan Harapan, with some leaders questioning whether BN’s continued participation in the Federal Government’s unity arrangement is compatible with its cooperation with PN at the state level.
Umno leaders have maintained that the arrangement in Negri Sembilan is a strategic understanding aimed at avoiding multi-cornered contests and preventing vote splitting, rather than a formal political merger.
