I used to have very high regards for the opposition parties, particularly PAS and PKR until recently. My childhood memories even included shouting ‘Reformasi! Reformasi!’ at the top of my voice while riding my little tricycle. I saw Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of PKR as the ideal leader for Malaysia. During his days in ABIM, Anwar was credited for doing a great job in promoting hijabs among the Muslim women. One of my teachers once told me that during her younger days, she was made fun of because she wears hijab; during the older days we can hardly see Malaysian women in proper hijab. PAS (meaning the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) was formed with a mission to fight for Islam and to uphold Islam in Malaysia. Therefore, I used to firmly believe that if PAS and PKR could work together to form a new government, it would be really great for Malaysia.
But recent events made me doubt my strong belief and trust in PAS and PKR. Was it fair for PAS to falsely claimed that Himpunan Sejuta Umat or HIMPUN (an event organised by Muslim NGOs calling the Muslims to strengthen their faith and to fight against apostasy) as an UMNO’s political agenda while giving full-support towards Bersih, a ‘demonstration turned riot’ led by an LGBT fighter asking for fair and clean election.
As an Islamic party claiming to fight for an Islamic government, PAS should not only took part but also supported HIMPUN as it was an important Islamic program. And as for PKR who claims that the current government is not Islamic for being led by corrupted leaders who cheated in the past general elections, why can’t their Muslim and ‘Islamic’ leaders especially Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim support HIMPUN, even if their non-muslim leaders would not?
Even Datuk Ibrahim Ali (not that I am a fan of his), whom the opposition leaders refer as ‘frog’, attended the event to support his Muslim brothers and sisters. Of course, he wanted to be one of the speakers at the event, but even after he was ‘denied’ the honour, he still attended HIMPUN, proudly sitting with the mass crowd despite of his flamboyant self. And not just that, he even used his influence to promote the event and brought along the members of his NGO in full spirit. Ibrahim Ali may be a frog for some people but when it comes to his faith, he knows that as a Muslim, he needs to protect Islam.
If a flamboyant ‘frog’ can put aside his ego for the sake of Islam, why can’t the supposedly honourable Muslim leaders of PKR and especially PAS at least voiced out their support towards strengthening the faith of Muslims? PAS president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said to the press just before the event that (because) he respected the organisers’ wishes to keep HIMPUN as a non-political event, he will not be attending HIMPUN and advised all PAS members to follow suit.” It was an odd indeed; but what makes it more confusing is the fact that he and other PAS senior leaders gave Bersih their full-support when Bersih is also a non-political event. PAS’s spiritual leader even made a call to all Muslims to attend Bersih 3.0 rally; not only saying that it is a must(wajib) for Muslims to do so but even admitted that he provided some of them with some pocket money. Or did they took those actions to humiliate the Bersih 3.0’s organisers since Bersih 3.0 was led by an LGBT fighter? But of course it would make sense if the rumours were true that Bersih 3.0 is actually the opposition parties’ political agenda to tarnish the reputation of the current government with the hope to paint the Malaysian government as cruel, injustice, corrupted and against the freedom of speech.
PAS should do all it takes to fight for Islam, after all their party’s mission slogan is (or was?) to implement the Islamic law (hudud) in Malaysia; claiming that Malaysia under the current government is a secular country. Later, they even accused UMNO was behind HIMPUN, which was a big white lie! Why must they choose to policalise everything? And what is wrong for Muslims to sit together as an ummah(a muslim) disregarding their different political stances at such events? Earlier, PAS youth chief made a statement giving full support for HIMPUN but he was silenced by Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s strong statement against HIMPUN. Wouldn’t PAS be gaining political mileage if they support HIMPUN, instead of fibbing and twisting stories? Perhaps HIMPUN is not Bersih(clean) enough …. for it was not a political event.
However, Datuk Dr. Hasan Ali who was one of their state government’s excos attended the event not as a political leader but in his personal capacity as a Muslim individual. Ironically, he was shortly sacked from the party for (as quoted by PAS president) “based on Datuk Hasan Ali’s action which have wronged and damaged the party’s interest as provided for in PAS constitution”. I (and I believe, many others) give high respect to Dr. Hasan Ali for he dared to go against the odds to support Islam despite of PAS’s orders that prevented their members from attending HIMPUN.
It seems very clear that PAS isn’t true to their words to uphold and fight for Islam. Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat(PAS spiritual leader) and Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS president) made lots of questionable statements; some were even contrary to the teaching of Islam. It is such a shame if the ‘rumours’ is true that PAS uses Islam for their own political gains to win the Muslim (who are the majority of Malaysian) votes in achieving their dreams to lead the country or as they fondly say ‘menuju Putrajaya’. Instead of upholding Islam, their conducts shows the opposite. The worst is, the Malays are torn apart.
Aiman Amani's Weblog 
Dear Aiman, PAS has a social, civil and constitutional right to advance its agenda; the promotion, advancement and establishment of an Islamic theocratic society, more so where Muslim is the majority here. So what is wrong if PAS is using Islam in politics? Islam is a way of life. Mind you, I am not talking about the leaders. Anyway, your writing is excellent.
Assalamu Alaikum, Uncle may13,
Thank you and it is nice to hear from you again. There is nothing wrong if PAS is using Islam in politics. In fact that is the reason why I used to support PAS. The problem started when PAS is using Islam as a screen to cover their true agendas to reach Putrajaya. A week before Bersih 3.0, PAS’s YB Nasharudin Mat Isa said that taking part in Bersih is haram since it was led by an LGBT rights activist. But Nik Aziz said that it is wajib to take part in the rally. So, for PAS’s leaders supporting and working with the groups who fight for LGBT and murtad rights, IFC and people who insult Islam is wajib but Haji Hadi was all out against supporting the Muslims NGOs in HIMPUN whose objective is to fight against murtad. Not only that, they even have the heart to insult the muftis and ulama’ who do not agree with them. If only you could find out how N. Aziz insulted Dr. Uthman El Muhammadi… Again, I would not feel so bad if TIBAI or Ummi Hafilda use such words but not a person like N. Aziz. And in the case of Irshad Manji, neither Nik Aziz nor H. Hadi seems to be really bothered by her. And the sad part is where are the self proclaimed Islamic warriors during her program at the KL and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall? Or are they with her since N. Aziz used to make a statement that Rasulullah S.A.W. was just another Mamat until he became a prophet? Not to mention what he said about Allah, how he defended Anwar, Amanat H. Hadi, the issue of negara Islam, murtad, LGBT, using the word Allah by other religions etc. These are not UMNO’s propaganda 🙂 I read and watch news and videos from both sides; it is a pity for those who were only fed by their so called fair medias who are free to insult Islam. For a Muslim, aqidah is more important than free election, corruptions etc.
Waalaikumusalam
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