PAS president’s remark reveal prejudice against non-Muslims, says DAP

(MMO) – Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s claim that only a Muslim Bumiputera can govern Sarawak revealed the PAS president’s bias against other communities, DAP said today.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also accused Hadi of presenting a straw man by claiming that the DAP wanted a Chinese leader to govern the state, saying that his party never made the assertion.

“Hadi is clearly anti non-Muslim when he said that non-Muslim bumiputeras and Chinese can be leaders but both Sabah and Sarawak must be ruled by a Muslim Bumiputera,” Lim said in a statement today.

“Why are the non-Muslim Bumiputeras disqualified for the highest office of chief minister of Sarawak merely because of they are not Muslims? Clearly non-Muslim Bumiputeras have a more open heart and Malaysian spirit than Hadi when they can accept a Muslim bumiputera like Tan Sri Adenan Satem as their chief minister.”

Lim said Hadi’s remarks were divisive and offensive, and were the consequence of the PAS president’s affinity towards Barisan Nasional that he said was partial towards communal politics.

He also questioned why the Islamist party sought support from all sections of Malaysia if it could only accept Muslim Bumiputera leaders, saying Hadi’s remark has essentially ended any prospects that other ethnic and religious groups will still accept PAS.

Hadi reportedly made the remarks when addressing PAS supporters in Kuching yesterday, saying it applied particularly to former ally DAP.

“The Chinese, the Indians and other races are our leaders too, but they need to be led by a Muslim,” he was quoted as saying by The Star Online news portal.

Hadi also said his claim was consistent with Islamic principles.

According to the 2010 census data, Sarawak is 46 per cent Christian while 23 per cent are Muslims.

PAS is contesting 11 seats for the election. It did not win any in the 2011 poll.