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KUALA LUMPUR – Johor DAP vice-chief Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali has hit back at PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang for maligning his party as a communist outfit in the lead up to the 15th general election.
He accused the Islamist party of ruining the image of Malays by bringing a culture of defamation into the political scene.
Hadi had on social media yesterday called on people to reject DAP by linking the party to communism.
In a statement today, Sheikh Umar characterised Hadi’s assertion as further slander by PAS’ top leader.
“If Umno-BN (Barisan Nasional) degrades the politics of Malay people with corruption, PAS is degrading Malays with a culture of slander,” he said.
“Slander is strongly forbidden in Islam, so much so that the repercussions for such conduct is said to be ‘heavier than the act of murder’.”
“I would like to remind voters to oppose the politics of corruption and the extent to which Umno-BN leaders are corrupt. Voters should also reject the politics of slander, which is now the lifeblood of PAS,” he alleged.
Stressing that Prophet Muhammad upheld social justice, he accused PAS of hurling slander at others just as the Prophet had been the target of similar attacks.
“Corruption destroys the economy, and the culture of slander destroys our civilisation,” Sheikh Umar said.
“If this continues, the Malaysian nation, especially the Malays, will become a weak nation because of the actions of Umno-BN and PAS.
“Isn’t Hadi ashamed to see our neighbouring countries developing rapidly with various aspects of their people’s economy and ethics?” he asked.
Yesterday, Hadi posted on his Facebook and Twitter that DAP was involved in pushing communist ideology in Malaysia.
The Marang MP defined communism as a secular concept that rejects belief in God, and said communists were worse than colonisers, Christians, and Jews.
A series of posters also listed alleged communist activities in Malaysia, including the return of exiled Malayan Communist Party leader Chin Peng’s ashes.
“Thus, any attempt to uplift or reproduce the communist ideology in our homeland as carried out by DAP should be prevented and opposed,” Hadi said. – The Vibes, October 20, 2022