PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang should not hide behind the shield of religion for political purposes, Umno president Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today. 

He said Umno was disappointed by Hadi’s remarks that the Malay nationalist party was tainted by corruption scandals and filled with greedy and unrepentant leaders. 

Hadi had said this to explain why PAS refused to work with Umno for the coming elections. 

Zahid said Hadi’s statements were baseless and inappropriate. 

“I believe he said that based on his observations and personal views. If I want to humiliate him, I can. 

“But I have morals and won’t embarrass anyone, especially those who have more religious knowledge. So don’t use religion for political purposes,” he was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times.

“We should use politics to strengthen religion. To liken a political party to animals, plants or fruits is inappropriate. 

“Durians have sharp thorns. If you are underneath a falling durian, I’m afraid the sharpness of the thorns will hurt your head, if not your body. So don’t play with durians,” he said at a press conference after opening the Bagan Datuk Umno division meeting today. 

The incumbent Bagan Datuk member of parliament was commenting on Hadi’s remarks on Friday in which he had likened the Muafakat Nasional cooperation between Umno and PAS to consuming “unripe durian”, which could lead to an upset stomach. 

PAS has decided to continue working with Perikatan Nasional (PN) instead of Umno for GE15 for the sake of ummah unity. 

On another matter, Zahid also brushed aside Gerak Independent (GI) candidate Mohd Tawfik Ismail’s decision to contest the Bagan Datuk seat, saying that the voters there know who would serve them better. 

“Bagan Datuk voters are smart enough to choose between diamond and glass…they will definitely elect a candidate who will best represent them,” said Zahid, who had been the MP there since 1995. 

“They will not vote based on hatred, or to belittle anyone who is seen as not being up to par with the capabilities of a former MP and a son to a former deputy prime minister,” added the former deputy prime minister. 

Tawfik is the son of former deputy prime minister Ismail Abdul Rahman, and had held the Sungai Benut (now Simpang Renggam) parliamentary constituency from 1986 to 1990 as an Umno lawmaker. 

Earlier this week, Tawfik said he wanted to take on Zahid in Bagan Datuk during GE15 to show Malay voters that there were more progressive Malay leaders than those touted by Umno and PAS. – October 16, 2022.