PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang should emulate the party’s former spiritual leader, the late Nik Aziz Nik Mat, said Pakatan Harapan deputy president Lim Guan Eng. 

“Nik Aziz was open and respected by many non-Muslims but Hadi is different,” Lim said at DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was asked to comment on Hadi’s latest allegation that Nik Aziz had been troubled by DAP’s negative attitude towards religious and racial issues.

Lim said if that were true, he would not have been allowed to speak at Nik Aziz’s funeral in 2015.

“Bear in mind that when Nik Aziz passed away, I spoke during the funeral. If it were the case (that Nik Aziz did not approve of DAP), I don’t think I would have been welcomed,” said Lim.

He said Nik Aziz was an inclusive leader which Hadi was not.

“I think Hadi has said many things, it’s up to the people to decide. 

“He has said about making non-Malays, non-Muslims second-class citizens, having a two-tiered cabinet – higher cabinet decides policies, the lower cabinet, where there can be non-Muslims, helps to implement. Is that Malaysian?”

“What Hadi should (do) is to learn from Nik Aziz. We must interact with people of all races. Why is Hadi only limiting himself to one group?” Lim added.

Hadi had claimed that DAP became bossy after Nik Aziz passed away in an interview with China Press published today.

PAS broke away from the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat coalition in 2015 due to differences in opinion  with DAP over hudud.

PKR, DAP and PAS splinter party, Amanah formed Pakatan Harapan that same year. Bersatu, led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, subsequently joined the coalition.

PAS has declared itself a kingmaker in the 14th general election because it has the ability to affect the outcome of the contest between BN and PH for power. The Islamist party expects to win at least 40 out of the 130 parliamentary seats it is contesting. – February 8, 2018.