Sin Lee Huang: I am not sure what PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s aide was thinking, or whether he knows what he is talking about, when he said it is up to the reader to interpret what Hadi said.
The point of Hadi's speech is to clarify his thoughts and his direction, not to invite people to debate or speculate about what is on his mind. I have no doubt that Hadi was intentionally vague. He wants PAS to be able to claim inclusiveness while not committing to anything.
Since I am invited to interpret Hadi’s words, I say this confirms that he is paying lip service to inclusiveness, as his words confirm that he is sidelining non-Muslims, if not worse.
Picture Fu: Very simple to interpret. This is racism at its core. Even his own aide cannot elaborate and leaves you to imagine. What is there to interpret when what you said is unconstitutional and very racist in nature?
Green Falcon 2290: This aide needs to precisely interpret what is intended, not leave it to tens of millions of people to interpret in a million different ways.
Why does he make such a frivolous, meaningless remark? As to the remark itself, why is this a surprise to anyone? Isn’t the principal objective of all the Malay parties known to all?
The next 10 years will see this objective being put into practice. Hadi has merely enunciated in public what they all know in private, and he should be commended.
DebbieOng: Have they forgotten that Malaysia is not an Islamic country but a secular one? Yes, this is a Muslim-majority country, but the Federal Constitution, the supreme law of the land, defines Malaysia as a secular nation. This is not open to interpretation.
Hence, Hadi and PAS are now trying to redefine our beloved Malaysia. Thus far, Hadi and PAS have been spewing a lot of intimidation towards non-Muslims should they come to power. Moreover, they are only concerned about their own wealth, not the welfare of Muslims at the grassroots level.
Apa nama: Hadi is not suitable to talk about administering Malaysia, a secular, multiracial and multireligious country where any Malaysian, including non-Muslims, can constitutionally become prime minister if the person enjoys the support of the majority of MPs.
There is no such thing as a political party, such as PAS, dictating who can hold certain ministries and who cannot. As usual, Hadi is talking nonsense. He should retire from politics once and for all, since he cannot accept that non-Muslims are Malaysians as well and have equal rights constitutionally.
KN Samy: The non-Muslim “leader” within PAS will definitely support such a stand, as he may be able to play a subordinate role when and if PAS wins, symbolically showing non-Muslim participation.
I do not think that the majority of non-Muslim citizens in this country will accept this, as it is definitely making them subservient to the Muslims in this country.
For that to happen, PAS has to discard the current Constitution and proclaim Malaysia an Islamic theological state. Let us see whether this is feasible first.
Darma Kochi: “Hadi said that while non-Muslims can be ministers, their roles would be limited to portfolios that oversee the execution of government policies while Muslims handle policy formulation.” Hadi, are you implying that non-Muslims are not capable of handling policy formulation?
Raj Pragasam: It is interesting to note that Hadi is confident that PAS will win more seats than Umno in the 16th General Election, to lead the next government. I wonder who is depending on whom?
Sidelining or ignoring non-Malay partners by denying them positions in the cabinet, or appointing them to ministries of lesser importance, is the height of ignorance and arrogance.
Hopefully, PAS does not occupy ministerial positions in finance, education, defence, home, law, trade and industry. I do hope that they do not convert the nation into PAS-governed states. PAS may put us on a track of no return or hope.
Tan Meng Kee: Hadi wants to break up the Malaysian social fabric, keep non-Muslims on the fringe, and run the federal government according to his whims and fancies without any regard for the Federal Constitution. How can we allow such a person and his party to gain power?
Kandiah Chelliah: Hadi and PAS are extremists in the context of Malaysian politics, as verified by this speech.
The Malay Muslims are only about 63 to 65 percent of the population if Sabah and Sarawak’s populations are included. The Muslims in these two states are Muruts, Suluks, Melanau and other local natives. The Chinese and Indians form around 25 to 30 percent.
To say that non-Muslims in Malaysia’s cabinet should only be given “limited” policy-making decisions is totally racist and extreme. Such political parties should never form the federal government. Just leave them to rule the three Malay-Muslim-majority states.
P Dev Anand Pillai: Since 1990, PAS has been administering the state of Kelantan. What do they have to show the rest of the states in terms of their ability to administer a state whose economy thrives and creates jobs for the masses from other states?
Lee: Minorities have no rights under PAS. What he says is just telling everyone that this is what the minority deserves when they become the government.
Don’t ask for more and you will never get more than that.
In other countries, minorities have had the chance to hold important positions and even become heads of state. In this country, minorities are always portrayed as being out there to take over the country.
Yeoh Ng Khong: “Open for interpretation” is an easy answer without any clarity. Just a waste of time. Running a country is never a guessing game. It needs to be clear and objective, not riddles.
Anyway, the public knows who the smart people in business are.
Chefoo: After almost 70 years of independence, which was fought for equally by all races, PAS says non-Muslims, even if chosen to be in the cabinet, can only be policy implementers. Only Malay Muslims can formulate policies.
Non-Muslims are rightful citizens and yet are treated like this. The best part is that we have a bunch of PAS non-Muslim members supporting these policies. Live with dignity, not like street animals hanging around for discarded food.
