PAS taken to task over ‘all-Muslim’ comment

PETALING JAYA: PAS should not deny that it will discriminate against non-Muslims when it comes to administering the country, says MCA religious harmony bureau chairman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker.

In a statement, Ti said based on the article by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang in Harakah Daily last Friday, the Islamist party leader had clearly stated that the country’s top leaders in charge of policy and concept are followers of Islam, and non-Muslims are to be accepted for their expertise and management skills.

“This is enough to show that the PAS president is saying that matters of policy and concept that are commonly under the purview of the Cabinet should only be handled by Muslims.

“Abdul Hadi also stressed that non-Muslims are only accepted based on their ‘expertise and management skills’. Isn’t it clear that non-Muslims are being discriminated against when it comes to matters and issues concerning policy and concept?

“Isn’t it clear as well that the Cabinet and its ministers are leaders of their ministries which makes decisions touching on policies and concepts?

“Why does the PAS president or its party want to discriminate against non-Muslims by forbidding them to make decisions on such matters?” he added.

Abdul Hadi also claimed in his statement that a head of government and his Cabinet members must be from the most influential race.

His deputy Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man later issued a statement saying that Abdul Hadi’s article was misconstrued, claiming that the party president did not say that he wanted an all-Malay Muslim Cabinet.

In a statement, Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hindu­ism, Sikhism and Taoism said Abdul Hadi’s view is “dangerous, extreme and divisive” and added that to claim that only Malay Muslims are to lead the country’s political system and administrative structure is contrary to the Federal Constitution.

“The constitution does not impose any requirement of race or religion for the appointment of members of the executive branch of the Government. Article 43(2) governs such appointments,” the council added.