THE just-concluded 65th PAS muktamar offered a peek into the mindset of the party’s leaders, and invoked mixed feelings of comedy, simpleton thinking and pity. Could anyone tell if the PAS president and his cohorts were playing nursery games during the muktamar? A kindergartener would say to another: “I pinch you now, pain or not?” The imaginative mind would quickly chuckle at Abdul Hadi Awang’s remarks that when Umno got pinched, PAS would feel the pain, and vice versa. No, sophisticated minds and grown-ups do not indulge in nursery games or bedtime stories.

As for indulgence, PAS politicians often associate politics with marriage and divorce, with husband and wife. Making such connections portrays the simpleton mindset of both the leaders and audience. Their way of thinking indicates a cultural root and preoccupation that has taken priority over what should be indulgence in good governance.

Values have priority, too. So said the unquestionable Hadi’s “decree”: “Prioritise faith before integrity, because there is no value to integrity without faith.” Neither he nor the other PAS leaders spoke up against the 1Malaysia Development Bhd fiasco. They seemed to have condoned various other scandals, too. These are issues to do with integrity. Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz admitted to lying when confronted with Hadi’s RM90 million case at a London court. Hadi himself has been accused of lying regarding his support for Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s leadership. To them, integrity appears unnecessary. Lying is “blessed” as faith overrides other shortcomings.

If faith drives men to excel in their vocations, to be the best educators, administrators and political leaders, then, there should have been a public outcry over plagiarism at institutions of higher learning, over the generally indifferent attitude among public servants, and there would be no 1MDB and other scandals.

How can men excel when their mental preoccupation is the afterlife’s “sensual” rewards? It is good if such thoughts motivate men to do earthly good, work hard and contribute positively to society prior to their “departure”. This has not been the case. Integrity, as a value, cannot be stripped from earthly vocations. In politics, education, public administration, et cetera, integrity dictates excellence.

The Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council’s agenda to convert all Orang Asli in the state in 30 years is reflective of Hadi’s decreed importance of faith. The calamity involving Kg Kuala Koh’s Bateq residents – 15 died within a month and more than 100 were hospitalised, many of whom had been converted – is telling of the indifference and inaptitude of those in power. The state government was slow to respond when news of the illness broke. Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah did not even know about the mining activities near the village. Weeks passed before the “mysterious” illness and cause of death was found to be measles, which tells us that competency suffers when the mind’s preoccupations are misplaced.

PAS Women’s wing vice-chief Salamiah Md Nor, at the muktamar, called for the second national language to be Arabic, the language of the Quran, instead of Mandarin. She also called for an end to vernacular schools. Her suggestion is perhaps worth considering if someone from Kelantan is able to produce a breakthrough in any of the scientific disciplines, or contribute notable technological innovations. Another public debate concerning the second national language, after the matriculation-Mandarin saga stirred by the education minister, is unnecessary.

There have been lengthy debates on the low standards of our national schools. Much has been said about a large portion of the curriculum being allocated for religious studies, one of the main reasons numerous Muslim parents send their children to vernacular schools. PAS leaders who want to join the debate on education and language should, in the future, follow the public discourse from the beginning, and not suddenly emerge firing blanks.

Our nation is now at a crossroads. We aspire to be an Asian Tiger economy, to move from middle-income to high-income, for which the income per capita has to be at least US$12,235 (RM50,697) by World Bank standards. We are talking about Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things. Can faith and religion alone be drivers to help achieve these goals?

Sensibility should prevail among PAS leaders, and they should not be comics, pitied by others. Otherwise, it will soon be a given that what they utter is moronic. – June 27, 2019.

* Captain Dr Wong Ang Peng is a researcher with an interest in economics, politics, and health issues. He has a burning desire to do anything within his means to promote national harmony. Captain Wong is also a member of the National Patriots Association.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.