Does Hadi agree Malaysia should be a model of harmony?

By Lim Kit Siang

I was sitting down to write my Hari Raya Aidilfitri message to Malaysians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, when I read Pas president Hadi Awang’s ferocious attack on the DAP and me.

I do not know why Hadi chose Hari Raya Aidilfitri to launch his attack on the DAP and me.

I have retired from the DAP’s frontline leadership politics for more than a year and I cannot and do not respond on behalf of the DAP leadership. But I cannot leave Hadi’s ferocious attacks on me unanswered.

Hadi is not a profound fake as it is easy to expose his dependence on lies, falsehoods and fake news for his arguments, as evidenced by the following four events:

• After the 2022 general election, he accused the DAP of promoting Islamophobia. It is now five months since he made the preposterous allegation, and despite my many challenges, he has not been able to furnish an iota of evidence to substantiate his wild allegation. He is the only political leader in Malaysia who makes allegations without evidence
• During the Teluk Intan by-election in May 2014, Hadi reminded Pas members that the DAP had helped Pas when the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition tried to oust the party from ruling Kelantan during the 1977 Kelantan emergency. He said although there were so many things different between the DAP and Pas, like what is halal (permissible) and haram (forbidden), alcohol, pork and hudud, the two parties agree with each other on eradicating poverty, cruelty and corruption, among other things. Was the DAP promoting Islamophobia in coming to Pas’ help in 1977?
• Hadi should know by now that the DAP was not the mastermind or had anything to do with the 2018 episode when the Pakatan Harapan government under then Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had tried to ratify the International Covenant on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Is Hadi going to apologise for his ferocious attacks on the DAP as the ‘mastermind’ of the attempted ratification?
• Since 2018 Hadi has not been able to cite a single a case among the 55 out of 57 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Muslim countries where Islam was undermined or a single case among the 36 out of 38 countries with a monarchical system where the monarchical system was affected as a result of the ratification of international covenant

After these four major blunders, what credibility has Hadi left for speaking truthfully and honestly, based on facts and truth, and not on lies, falsehoods, and fake news?

Hadi has repeated the allegation that I am a communist, for which he could not furnish any evidence.

If I am a communist, why didn’t the Ministry of Home Affairs arrest me when Perikatan Nasional was in government under two ‘backdoor’ prime ministers for 32 months from 2020 to 2022?

I have never been a communist, but Hadi insists I am one. When did he discover that?

But a communist is not a devil incarnate, as Hadi should be aware that the Saudi Arabia-Iran deal was brokered by a communist – Xi Jinping, the President of communist China.

Is Hadi and Pas against Malaysia having close relations with communist China?

I always believe Malaysia can play a global role, and one of these roles is to be a model state to the world of inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisational understanding, tolerance and harmony!

Does Hadi agree?

Hadi has no objection if Malaysia ends up as a divided, failed and kleptocratic state.

I do not agree. I see Malaysia has the potential to be one of the world’s achievers and models.

On the auspicious occasion of one of the most important religions in the world, despite all the wrong and false conceptions of DAP and me, I have no harsh words for Hadi, and I wish Hadi and Pas: Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf zahir dan batin!

Let all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region, celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri and show that we can be a role model for the world of inter-racial, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisational understanding, tolerance and harmony.

Hadi’s example is not be followed if we want to play such a role model for the world. – blog.limkitsiang.com

Lim Kit Siang is a retired DAP leader and former parliamentary opposition leader

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama

1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme

Support our work by making a donation. Tap to download the QR code below and scan this QR code from Gallery by using TnG e-wallet or most banking apps: