HE is the only PAS leader who seems unwilling to forget the scandal-hit 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) within the Islamist party. Or to forget other issues affecting Malaysia, for that matter.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man today put it succinctly when he said trivial and sensational issues including high-profile arrests and slapping is being used to distract the public from scandals such the 1MDB debts and rising costs of living.

“With these techniques, Barisan Nasional hopes the public will forget issues such as 1MDB and rising costs of living by focussing on programmes such as TN50, non-stop political dramas such as slapping and high-profile arrests,” he wrote in the PAS mouthpiece Harakah today.

“BN will try anything but the reality is, this political change cannot be avoided although the time is not known,” Tuan Ibrahim added.

His views differ with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who has broken off ties with opposition pact Pakatan Harapan and is seen to be closer to Umno and Prime Minister Najib Razak on several issues including stricter Islamic Syariah laws and the plight of Myanmar’s Rohingya community.

Both parties have, however, denied any pacts but say they will work together on issues affecting Muslims.

Despite that, Tuan Ibrahim said the country’s problems require a serious political shift or change, adding that the souring economy was largely the government’s fault and its abuses are now being revealed.

He pointed out that criticism about the abuse of power within the government is now coming out from Umno and the Cabinet.

“Criticisms from former BN leaders including Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin, Shafie Apdal, Ling Liong Sik in the 1MDB issue until they left or were sacked from their parties and formed their own parties is a dramatic political development,” Tuan Ibrahim said.

The PAS deputy president said there has been unparalleled demands for the PM to step down from his job.

“This is something that has never happened before. BN is not expected to withstand this,” he added, hence the political distractions.

Tuan Ibrahim said rising awareness among the youth and demands for total change was getting stronger but the question was the type of change.

“Do we only want to change the country’s leadership and the secular system or totally change the country’s system,” he asked, saying PAS must bring people back to an Islamic system.

“Without returning to the true Islam, we can only carry out a half-baked change. We will only be able to change from a failed man-made system to another man-made system that will face various weaknesses,” he said in the statement from Mecca.

Tuan Ibrahim said Islam is against the mindset that closes its eyes and ears to change. 

“In Islam, man is urged to open their eyes and ears, to analyse with a sincere heart and come to your own conclusion,” he added. – May 29, 2017.