THE 1985 Memali tragedy would not have happened if muftis had challenged the Amanat Hadi, said Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said muftis seemed to agree with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s speech as they did not speak up against him.

On April 7, 1981, Hadi declared Umno and Barisan Nasional as an infidel government that ruled like colonialists.

“If muftis agree (with Hadi’s speech), and they don’t join PAS, then they, too, are infidels, and those who are advised by muftis are also infidels.

“What we saw in the Memali tragedy was Ibrahim Libya’s followers killing police because they were infidels for working for an infidel government.

“That is what happens when an edict comes from a politician, and muftis do not address it,” he said in his winding-up speech at Bersatu’s inaugural annual general meeting in Shah Alam.

Former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor previously said Hadi’s speech had served to inspire PAS members nationwide, including religious teacher and party member Ibrahim Mahmud, also known as Ibrahim Libya.

Ibrahim had formed a militant sect that wanted to go beyond its political struggle.

Rahim said the Amanat Hadi had two important elements: the accusation that Muslims who failed to adopt Islam as a complete way of life, including in politics, were “kafir”, or infidels, and the declaration that opposition to Umno and BN was “jihad”, and those who died in the struggle were “martyrs”.

“Hadi’s message was actively taken up and preached by PAS Youth, and it was this message that inspired Ibrahim Libya.

“He was a strident PAS follower and was very loyal to Hadi’s message,” said Rahim, who is also former Bukit Aman Special Branch chief. – December 30, 2017.