FORMER Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has hit back at PAS, calling it a party of “infidels” for having worked with Umno and non-Muslim parties for the sake of power, reports said.

Dr Mahathir said that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang used to call Barisan Nasional infidels for working with non-Muslim parties, but it too went down the same route by partnering with Umno in Muafakat Nasional.

“I find PAS’ actions peculiar because it differs from its previous stand,” the Pejuang chairman told reporters after the launch of the Pejuanita convention.

“Previously, PAS accused Umno of being an infidel party and other things. But, without denying that Umno is an infidel party, it means they are now working with infidels.”

“PAS is opportunistic. When they see an opportunity, they put aside their principles. However, they say that they struggle for Islam, that they cannot work with infidels or they themselves will become infidels.”

The Langkawi MP also branded PAS an opportunistic party for setting aside its principles once it was given power and position.

“We don’t really know why PAS was established, for it to champion Islam or for its ember to become lawmakers and menteri besar to obtain titles and money.”

“It doesn’t look like they are focusing on Islam but on power and money,” he said.

Yesterday, Hadi said Pakatan Harapan is a coalition of “bribe takers and receivers” and rejected working with the coalition.

He also accused PH of being anti-Islam.

This is not the first time the Marang MP has made such remarks. Recently, he was interviewed by police after saying non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras were mostly responsible for corruption in Malaysia.

He is currently being investigated under section 505 (C) of the penal code for issuing statements likely to incite any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community of persons, and section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for improper use of network facilities or network services.

In response, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said PAS under Hadi’s leadership was a different party from the one led by its past leaders.

The PKR president said the views of the late Nik Aziz Nik Mat and Fadzil Noor would have differed from Hadi, and pointed out that the current PAS president had branded Umno members as infidels in the past.

Nik Aziz was PAS’ spiritual leader from 1995 until his death in February 2015, and Fadzil, who died in 2002, was Hadi’s immediate predecessor.

Dr Mahathir also revealed that many have asked that he return as prime minister for the third time if Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) wins the 15th General Election.

“I’m not ready, but they have asked me to. At the moment, I have not made any decision, I have not declined or accepted,” he said.

GTA is a coalition made up of Pejuang, National Indian Muslim Alliance Party (Iman), Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) and Parti Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa).

Dr Mahathir said the various parties have banded together for the sake of ousting the “deviant Malay party that is Umno”.

He said the coalition will stand in all 120 constituencies with a Malay majority in the general election. – September 16, 2022.