Pua condemns the blatant deceit of ‘pious’ PAS leader
Tony Pua says Hadi Awang’s dishonesty over hudud shows the Islamist party cannot be trusted by PR or Malaysians
(Free Malaysia Today) – Tony Pua has said that PAS cannot be trusted by Pakatan Rakyat, now that its president has pushed for the party’s Islamist agenda despite a pact between them and DAP stating explicitly that both parties would “agree to disagree” on the controversial issue of hudud.
Pua also commented that it was “ironical” how Abdul Hadi Awang portrayed himself as a “pious” leader but thought nothing of indulging in “blatant dishonesty and deceit” to get what he wanted.
“His treacherous behaviour can only lead to the conclusion that as long as he remains the President of PAS, the Party cannot be trusted by both Pakatan Rakyat and Malaysians,” Pua, who is DAP National Publicity Secretary and MP for Petaling Jaya Utara, said in a statement today.
Accusing Hadi of not fully comprehending the concepts of “mutual respect”, “agree to disagree” and “coalition consensus”, Pua noted how Hadi told Bernama recently that PAS did not betray DAP despite the two agreeing to disagree over hudud.
Pua countered, “The very admission that DAP disagreed to the implementation of hudud means clearly it isn’t Pakatan Rakyat’s policy.”
He also said PAS Secretary-General Mustafa Ali himself admitted so at the Tenang by-elections while going further to give his assurances that even if PAS had “absolute power with two-thirds majority in Parliament”, hudud would not be the first issue the party would tackle.
“When coalition partners agree to disagree, it means that it is not the coalition policy. And any attempt to implement any policy vigorously opposed within the coalition is therefore a contemptuous violation and betrayal of the coalition,” Pua argued.
