Hadi’s antics are aimed at winning the youth vote
It would be careless, if not dangerous, to write off the PAS president as delusional and his outbursts as rants.
Parti Islam Se-Malaysia president Abdul Hadi Awang’s latest antics are causing a ruckus in Malaysian politics. Many are claiming these are the beginnings of an extremist uprising, out of disappointment of not becoming the legitimate federal government of Malaysia.
In what appears to be an open defiance against the Selangor, Perak, Johor, and Terengganu rulers, critics are saying Hadi is treasonous towards the monarchy.
As the Sultans are head of Islam in their respective states, their decrees are mandatory to obey. Hadi lecturing Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, that the prophets were known to give such lectures in mosques, is defiant against the Sultan.
This is not the first time PAS leaders have made the rulers lose public face in front of their subjects, at the hands (or mouths) of PAS. In 2020, Perak PAS assemblymen ignored summonses to the palace by Sultan Nazrin Shah, when discussions were being held on the formation of a new state government.
Former religious affairs minister Idris Ahmad advised Muslims not to attend the Bon Odori Japanese festival in Selangor last year, contrary to Sultan Sharafuddin Idris of Selangor advising the Selangor Islamic Department (JAIS) and the Shah Alam City Council to allow the festival. PAS insisted the Sultan was wrong, and minister Idris at the time refused the Sultan’s directive to attend the Bon Odori festival to see for himself.
Even though these events can be construed treasonous, police stood by idly on these incidents, and the Council of Rulers also made no comments. Tensions from PAS are coming to a head when their behaviour are construed as extremist.
There is method in the madness here
These latest rantings are all about the coming state elections.
PAS sabre rattling and marching, along with Hadi talking about toppling the government, either through elections or inside the parliament, have a goal in mind. These actions are aimed at motivating youths to come out and vote for Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the coming state elections.
Six states, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan are due to have elections before September. PAS already holds three of the six states and is planning to win two more of them.
In Negeri Sembilan 23 out of 36 seats are in potential play. PAS kampongs are well established in many of the rural communities within the state. Selangor will be a bitterly fought state as well. If by any chance PN takes the state, this would take away the jewel of the peninsula., just like Pakatan Harapan took Selangor from the Barisan Nasional back in 2008. This would wound the image of the unity government, and force Anwar Ibrahim to work much longer on re-establishing a sense of legitimacy.
Hadi and Muhyiddin know that UMNO and PKR are electorally weak in Malay majority seats at this time. Opinion polls haven’t shown much change, sine the last general election. This PN will attack hard. This is an opportunity they can’t pass up.
These six coming state elections involve 42 percent of the national population. Around 10 percent of voters are youths aged between 18-24. This is the cohort Hadi has been focusing upon.
The Malay youth has been educated in Islam, many attending Islamic schools, madrasas, and part time Islamic education. This group also doesn’t have the same social ties to the Malay monarchs their parents did. They have been subjected to Islamic views from teachers over the last generation, that Hadi is attempting to tap through his rhetoric.
Hadi’s rhetoric and confrontation will motivate many young Malay voters come out to support PN. Within this youth cohort worldview, voting for Islam is the natural thing to do. If Hadi can motivate this group to come out and vote, as much as a 5 percent swing towards PN could be achieved in many state seats, enough to influence the outcome of the elections dramatically.
For example, event in the PH stronghold of Penang, a 5 percent swing will influence the outcomes in as many as 21 seats, in the 40 seat assembly. This could give PN as many as 10-12 seats in Penang. Gerakan also believe they can win a seat.
PAS will retain Kelantan and Terengganu and after the election will consolidate and extend their Islamization of government and society. PN will consolidate their position in Kedah, and begin to follow Kelantan and Terengganu. This is an opportunity for PAS to extend its vision of an Islamic Malaysia.
Many pundits see Hadi’s outbursts as a rise in Islamic extremism. Perhaps Hadi’s antics can better be seen as a retaliation to what PN sees as persecution through legal investigation, and placing charges against top PN leaders.
In this light, the first salvos for the coming state elections have been fired by both sides. The unity government has been smearing Bersatu, while PAS is mustering up the youth cohort for a ‘political-jihad’ vote in the coming elections.
Although many are portraying Hadi as delusional, this is dangerous. His reckless rants have a firm objective. Hadi is a cunning fox. So, it would be careless to write them of as just rants. This could be a very successful strategy for PN.
Originally published in FMT 12th March 2023
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With the destruction of a proper education which teaches our students to read, appreciate mathematics and science .Our diluted non education does not encourage the students to think, reflect and reason to be discerning and possess the ability to analyze and make independent decision for their won good, The environment is set for PAS to indoctrinate religious dogma and radicalized religion for a green wave.
Our previous education policy has only nurture conformist and compliant minds. Much to the delight of PAS, for in invading the minds of the youths in their most susceptible and impressive years the stage is set for mindless total submission. The same ideal is also proclaimed by the Jesuits — give us a child till he’s 7 and we’ll have him for life.
On the positive side, which the Malaysian education system of the past failed to attain.
“Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.” Aristotle,
The Pas state government can easily produce by the thousands voters who will mindlessly vote the religious teacher into power.
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. ”
― Alvin Toffler (4 Oct 1928- 27 June 2016)
He who will not reason, is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not is a slave.
Sir William Drummond (26 Sept 1769-29 March 1828)
Will election in the name of democracy produce capable and competent leaders?
“Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. No one in this world, so far as I know—and I have researched the records for years, and employed agents to help me—has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
― H.L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy
The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not entirely absurd. Indeed, in view of the silliness of majority Of the mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.
( Betrand Russell 18 May 1872-Feb 2 1970)
Hadi may appear to be country pumpkin for those who are not well verse in brain wash ing technique. but he is cunning and diabolical in his quest for power. He will given the opportunity, turn this land into another failed state. Another Pakistan waiting to be born.
To reveres the trend of the green wave is an almost impossible task, we don't have the luxury of time.
Education makes a people easy to lead, but difficult to drive, easy to govern, but impossible to enslave . Henry Peter Brougham ( 19 Sept 1778-7 May 1868)
The collapse of the education is the first step toward a journey a failed state. but good education will pave the highway to a better society. It is a sign of a statesman to think long term. Politicians only think of the nest election.
If you want to be happy for an hour, go take a nap.
If you want to be happy for a day, go golfing.
If you want to be happy for a month, get married.
If you want to be happy for a year, inherit a fortune.
But if you want to be happy for a lifetime, go educate the people