Hadi on the difference of ‘our’ welfare state and BN’s

 

(Harakah Daily) – Announcing appointments for several top posts in PAS after the new line-up’s first meeting yesterday, PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang called on Malaysians to vote for Pakatan Rakyat in achieving the goal of a true welfare state as espoused by PAS and its PR partners.

“In order to know the meaning of a true welfare state, vote for us in the next general election. Give us five years, we can show what we can do,” Hadi said during a press conference at party headquarters.

Dismissing the government’s claim that the current government was also based on ‘welfare state’, Hadi said the people under PR’s governance would benefit in terms of better quality of life.

Ever since the Islamic party endorsed the goal of a ‘benevolent state’, or welfare state as outlined by Hadi in his presidential address at the recent Muktamar, UMNO leaders have been pouring scorn on the concept, among others by saying that PAS had reneged on its Islamic state goal. PAS however said the concept of a welfare state was already Islamic and based on the Qur’anic call for a ‘benevolent state’.

The adaptation of the welfare state, which received intense support from PKR and DAP, is seen crucial, coming as it was at a time when the government comes under fire over a spate of price hikes, as well as its controversial funding of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) while denying subsidies for household users.

Hadi however rapped UMNO leaders, saying they were illiterate when it comes to Islamic politics.

‘Far cry from UMNO’s welfare state’

Hadi said a welfare state which takes guidance from the Qur’an and Prophetic traditions would be a far cry from the so-called welfare state as espoused by UMNO.

Hadi explained that the concept was not limited to people’s economic life but also was concerned with the fight against corruption.

“It is also meant to avoid forbidden things such as corruption, not because of MACC (Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission) but because of Allah’s decree,” he added.

Hadi said he understood the strong reactions among UMNO leaders over PAS’s call for welfare state, as it would put an end to price hikes and high taxes practised by BN.

“In Terengganu, PAS abolished the toll (for bridge). Clearly this was driven by welfare because those who used (the bridge) were small sellers and villagers,” said Hadi, recalling his earliest announcement as Terengganu Menteri Besar following PAS’s brief rule there in 1999-2004.

“We lost a few millions, but we managed by increasing the tax on the wealthy such as on industry and logging,” he added.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said UMNO felt threatened by the idea as it was introduced amid BN’s failure to defend people’s welfare, by agreeing to the electricity tariff hike which only benefited “greedy cronies”.

“Just look at the statements made by UMNO leaders to drive home a public perception that PAS had changed its struggle, when it is a fact that the welfare state, justice, security, prosperity and abundance are all ingredients of the Islamic state concept,” he explained.