PETALING JAYA: PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang (pic) has been roundly criticised for his claim that non-Muslims and non-bumiputra are the causes of corruption in the country.
In his statement on Saturday, he claimed that the root cause of corruption in the country was due to the influence non-Malays wielded over the economy and politics.
He said this had allowed non-Malays to dictate terms to the Malays, which in turn made the Malays become corrupted and entangled in financial scandals.
In response, MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon expressed shock at Abdul Hadi’s statement and demanded that he withdraw it immediately.
“It cannot be emphasised enough that no reasonable person would ever link the issue of graft with race and religion.
“Such misinformation is appalling, more so coming from a seasoned political leader,” he said yesterday.
Chong emphasised that corruption had nothing to do with race or religion.
“This is an obvious fact and basic common sense.”
He said Abdul Hadi had failed to prove his accusations with facts, analysis, empirical evidence or scientific grounds.
“This indicates that his allegations are utter nonsense,” he said.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy criticised Abdul Hadi for his “ludicrous” remark, which implied that the Malay leaders in Umno were not guilty of corruption as the non-Malays manipulated them.
“If that is the case, Hadi should advise the judiciary not to prosecute the Malay leaders as they are innocent.
“The blame should be cast on the ‘conniving non-Malays’, the real culprits,” he added.
Ramasamy believed that Abdul Hadi was “sharpening his tools” to be relevant to the Malay electorate for the general election.
Moderation advocate Mohamed Tawfik Ismail said Abdul Hadi was using the race card as an attempt to garner Malay support for the party.
“Playing race and religious politics is not a good way to persuade people to your side of your political argument because it makes people divided and suspicious of each other.
“As politicians, your duty is to unite people rather than to divide them,” he said.
Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah said the PAS leader’s claims were unsubstantiated and without any basis.
“Corruption is not about race but money being leaked out unmonitored.
“We should not be pointing fingers at any race, but at the people or individuals who commit the act, and they must be taken to task,” she said.
She added that Abdul Hadi was irresponsible for making such a statement and that he should instead be encouraging people to live together harmoniously in a multiracial society.
Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto said Malaysians did not deserve a leader like Abdul Hadi, who she said was unable to look at any issue without his racist lenses.
“When was the last time Hadi spoke in Parliament on corruption or abuse of power?” she asked, adding that Abdul Hadi’s “venomous politics” had no place in the country.
This is especially so when Malaysians are getting ready to celebrate National Day soon.
“He should rid himself of his ‘penjajah’ (colonial) mentality and embrace all Malaysians and work together for nation-building instead of becoming a wedge among Malaysians,” she said.
