Cops question Hadi over 'Islam's sanctity' statement

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has been questioned by police over his statement about "Islam's sanctity".

Two officers from Bukit Aman questioned the PAS president for an hour at the party headquarters on Jalan Raja Laut here on Tuesday (March 5).

The Marang MP's political secretary Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman later told reporters that Abdul Hadi gave full cooperation to police and answered their many questions.

"Abdul Hadi has read the statements of the IGP (Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain) and Home Minister (Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail) that a special task force has been formed to investigate this case as it involves 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues.

"We will give our full cooperation to facilitate investigations," said Mohd Syahir.

He also said Abdul Hadi's health had taken a turn recently, which was why he was unable to attend the opening of the Parliament recently after doctors advised him not to travel long distances.

However, he added that Abdul Hadi's was better now.

Mohd Syahir said the PAS leader had also sent a letter (warkah menjunjung kasih) to the Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on Monday (March 4).

Abdul Hadi is being investigated for sedition and misuse of network facilities after he apparently took a swipe at scholars, lawyers, judges, Members of Parliament, assemblymen and the Malay Rulers over the Federal Court's decision to strike out 16 criminal provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment (1) 2019 on Feb 9.

Abdul Hadi's statement, titled "Ketinggian Islam Wajib Dipertahankan (Islam's sanctity must be defended)", had incurred the ire of the Selangor Sultan, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who called the statement "disrespectful".