Hadi Awang's ‘problematic KL' remark slammed as ‘cheap shot'
PETALING JAYA : PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's claim that Kuala Lumpur is 'problematic' because of DAP and its Pakatan Harapan allies has been labelled as a 'cheap shot' that fuels divisive narratives.
Setiawangsa MP and former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad noted that the remark had come from a senior leader of the opposition 'who has been absent from Parliament'.
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
'This is a different PAS from the Nik Aziz Nik Mat era. Malays already form the largest community in KL, yet PH remains dominant,' he said, in countering Hadi's claim that DAP and other PH components still harped on racial issues.
'PAS is still unable to make a breakthrough because many Malays in KL reject PAS,' he told FMT.
On Wednesday, Hadi told the Dewan Rakyat that 'Kuala Lumpur is problematic due to DAP, PH and their friends. They only want to use the old playbook of playing the racial and political card.'
Hadi has had a dismal record in meeting his obligation as MP and a leading member of the opposition. Data compiled by MyMP (mymp.org.my) shows that he had attended only 33 out of 103 Parliament sessions held since July 26, 2021.
MyMP is an initiative started in 2016 by the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights, and tracks the availability, loyalty, win rate and work ethic of MPs.
When Nik Aziz was leading PAS as its spiritual leader the party was widely seen as more moderate, and politically inclusive rather than divisive on issues related to race and religion.
Nik Aziz, who was Kelantan's menteri besar from 1990 to 2013, had a reputation for humility and for appealing even to non-Muslims. He passed away on Feb 12, 2015 at the age of 84, after years of battling prostate cancer.
Azmi Hassan.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said if he were an MP from PH or DAP, 'anything that comes from Hadi should not be taken seriously'.
'If you ask Hadi to break down what he means by 'problematic KL', it will be difficult for him to elaborate because he is just throwing out an idea, even if the idea is absurd,' Azmi told FMT.
'Perhaps that it is his modus operandi, to spew words without any justification and explanation.'
Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said if Hadi believed there were weaknesses in city governance, he should propose alternative approaches.
Awang Azman Pawi.
'Mere poetry does not bring improvement; the real path is through substantive discussion, proposals, and resolutions.
As a religious preacher and leader, he should strengthen the values of moderation, justice, and unity,' he told FMT.
He said a good narrative would not divide people, it should foster a spirit of constructiveness, inclusivity, and mutual respect.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Cabinet agrees to act against ‘irresponsible politicians', says minister
Science, technology and innovation minister Chang Lih Kang criticised an 'irresponsible politician' for stoking tensions during the Merdeka month and for bullying. PETALING JAYA : The Cabinet decided yesterday to have firm action taken against 'irresponsible politicians' inciting sentiments over the recent Jalur Gemilang controversy, according to federal minister Chang Lih Kang. Chang, who is minister for science, technology and innovation, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other ministers were 'very concerned' that the issue would dampen public enthusiasm for National Day. Referring to reports of a police investigation regarding the controversy, he said: 'We shall wait and see whether anyone will eventually be charged in court,' Malaysiakini reported him as saying in a speech in Klang today. In a video on social media, Chang took further shots at an 'irresponsible politician' for stoking tensions during the Merdeka month. 'It's not only irresponsible, it is an act of bullying. Everyone knows who I am talking about.' His remarks appeared to be about Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, who led a group to a hardware shop in Penang after its owner was reported to have accidentally hung the national flag upside down. 'We are a nation and society governed by the rule of law. If there is a problem, lodge a police report and let the authorities take action. 'You are not an enforcement agency. You cannot just bring a group of people to someone's shop, disrupt their business and bully them,' Chang said.
Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
We have become overly sensitive as a nation
Fewer flags are flying in front of homes this year although this is August – Merdeka month. And we have to thank some of our politicians and social media activists for it. People are saying that it is better to not fly the flag than for someone to find fault and lodge a police report against them. I was at a function recently and a couple of elderly gentlemen shook their heads in response to the posturing and arguments over a recent case of a shopkeeper mistakenly flying the national flag upside down. 'What's wrong with these guys? We should be celebrating the flag. We should be encouraging people to fly the flag, not put fear into them so that they prefer not to fly the flag,' one of them said. Another said: 'It's a voluntary act to show our loyalty to the nation and to celebrate Malaya's independence from Britain but if this is going to cause me a problem, I'd rather not fly the flag. I will show my loyalty in other ways.' I can understand why many Malaysians are upset when a flag is flown upside down. They see it as disrespecting the nation. They rightly argue that after 68 years every Malaysian should know how to fly the flag. If it is intentional, the law must take its course; but we must remember that people do make mistakes. And we have to make allowances for that. In the 1960s and 1970s, if such a mistake had been made, people would just point it out and then move on. I have personally seen, sometime in the early-seventies, a man telling a shopkeeper that the national flag outside his shop was upside down. The shopkeeper looked surprised and quickly went to set it right, thanking the man in the process. The passer-by smiled and cycled off. There was no acrimony, no accusation of disloyalty, no police report. Then again, we were not as divided as we are today and politicians were generally more responsible. And we had no social media. Today, if someone has a flag that is flying upside down, he is accused of being disloyal, even a traitor to the nation, and a police report is lodged against him. And the police, who should spend their time fighting crime and keeping the streets safe, have to expend manpower and resources just to investigate this report. Today, even simple, innocuous remarks can be misunderstood and given a racial or religious tint; even statements of fact can be seen as an affront to this or that group. We tend to see almost everything with racially or religiously tinted lenses. We tend to view almost every act or remark with suspicion. As someone who has experienced life in the 1960s and 1970s, I feel that people today are overly sensitive, especially in matters related to race and religion. In those days, Malaysians were interested in resolving issues. If a flag was upside down, they would inform the person who had put up the flag to rectify the mistake. If someone had inadvertently made a remark or done something that hurt the feeling of some community or other, he would be forgiven if he sincerely apologised. But then again, people were not as hurt by remarks in those days. Today, it appears, many are more interested in looking like champions than in seeking solutions. In the process, Malaysians are growing further apart. I feel especially sad because this is Merdeka month – a period when we should focus on building bridges and coming closer together as a nation. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Malay Mail
PM's team delivers support to storm-hit Kuantan traders in Kampung Padang
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim provided initial aid to eight traders from Kampung Padang in Kuantan, Pahang whose businesses were affected by the recent storm. The contribution was presented by Anwar's political secretary Datuk Ahmad Farhan Fauzi during his visit to the location and victims on Thursday. 'After receiving the report, I went there with my team to see for myself the damage and hear the traders' complaints firsthand. 'Alhamdulillah, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's support, through the cooperation of the Implementation Coordination Unit, Prime Minister's Department, a certain amount of initial aid was able to be channelled, which is hoped to slightly alleviate the burden of losses suffered,' according to Ahmad Farhan in a Facebook post today. He hopes the contribution could help traders to rise again and restart their businesses. — Bernama
