PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has argued that meaningful national reform does not require two full terms in government, insisting that decisive change can be achieved far more quickly if leaders are genuinely committed to reform. He expressed the view that prolonged timelines often reflect a lack of political will rather than the complexity of reform itself.
Speaking during the debate on the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat on January 27, 2026, Hadi said history had shown that effective governance and reform could be carried out within a short period when leadership was sincere and principled. He referred to the reign of Umar Abdul Aziz of the Umayyad Caliphate, noting that far-reaching reforms had been implemented in roughly two years through strong moral leadership and clear direction.
Hadi suggested that calls for extended time in power were frequently used to justify delays, adding that rotating leadership without substantive reform only perpetuated existing weaknesses. In his view, reform that requires multiple terms risks becoming a slogan rather than a genuine transformation of governance and institutions.
He stressed that Islam places a strong emphasis on leadership by example, arguing that the conduct of those at the top determines how government machinery functions. According to him, when leaders demonstrate integrity and accountability, those values tend to filter down through the system. Conversely, failure at the top, he warned, can cause damage that spreads across institutions and erodes public trust.
Hadi also raised concerns about what he described as selective enforcement of laws, particularly in corruption-related cases. He said effective reform required equal treatment under the law, including firm action not only against those who accept bribes, but also against those who offer them and act as intermediaries. Weak enforcement, he argued, had created loopholes that allowed corrupt practices to continue under political protection.
He criticised what he saw as a system that shields allies while targeting opponents, claiming that such practices undermine the rule of law and turn the government into a protector of corrupt interests. In his assessment, this approach discourages integrity and sends a damaging message that loyalty to those in power determines who is held accountable.
Hadi maintained that without comprehensive and impartial reforms, efforts to improve governance would ultimately be futile. He urged leaders to focus on substance rather than political survival, saying that genuine reform demanded courage, consistency and moral clarity.
His remarks added to ongoing parliamentary debate over governance, accountability and the pace of reform, as lawmakers continue to clash over whether the current political system is capable of delivering meaningful change within a realistic timeframe.
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