LETTER | All it took was a mere chat with PAS boss Hadi Awang for MIC president S Vigneswaran, and he felt that there was no truth in the radical image attached to PAS by its critics. 

While he may have convinced the MIC members, he should realise that Malaysian-Indians and non-Malays/non-Muslims are not easily fooled by PAS.

While PAS under the revered Tuan Guru Nik Aziz had semblances of respect all thanks to the persona and honesty of Tuan Guru Nik Aziz, Hadi Awang, by contrast, is a sly and fork-tongued character without an iota of honesty. 

This is a man who labelled Umno as infidels and who was willing to bed DAP, and yet today has consummated with Umno and now calls DAP infidels.

Beneath the exterior of telling the world that the biggest sleeping Buddha statute is in Tumpat, Kelantan and that you can buy pork at the Siti Khatijah market in Kota Bahru and then you can have a glass of beer in the many Chinese coffee shops -  beyond that facade, PAS has always been just what it is. 

An intolerant, extremist and opportunistic party that has never wavered from its agenda to turn and make Malaysia a theocratic Islamic state and the implementation of Syariah law. Under Hadi Awang that is the holy grail. 

Thus, MIC’s endorsement that PAS is not radical must be a fait accompli. PAS has found in MIC a soulmate.

That Malaysia is multi-ethnic and multi-religious is of no concern to PAS. 

Hadi Awang’s vision of non-Muslims is as a subjugated secondary citizens - seen but not heard, livingbut ignored. PAS wants to replace Malay hegemony with Islamic hegemony, and MIC unable to see the forest for the trees is attempting to be an apologist for PAS and sell the PAS product to all.

It is really perplexing how Vigneswaran could easily be convinced that PAS is not radical. In fact, it’s very similar to how DAP once used to wax lyrical about PAS and be the apologist for PAS. 

One can understand MIC political survivability is very much dependent and reliant on the Umno-PAS alliance but for its own political expediency, it should not try to emulate DAP who once fooled and hoodwinked Malays and non-Muslims about PAS.

For a start, Vigneswaran should realise that non-Muslims have no meaningful role in a PAS government. Last year, The Malaysian Insight quoted Hadi Awang as saying “If PAS rules ( the administration) will be divided into two, one Cabinet that decides on national policies. This must consist of people who adopt the national ideology and faith”.

“This Cabinet will appoint an executive Cabinet to carry out policies and members can be non-Muslims appointed based on their expertise. In short, non-Muslim political role, if any would be at best be under a body similar to PAS non-Muslims supporters club - the DPPH.

If that is not radical enough, Vigneswaran may want to know a little bit more on Hudud which I am sure Hadi Awang would not have clarified

Last December, at a gathering with Indian NGO’s on the issue of hudud, Hadi Awang said “ If there is hudud it will follow what is already provided in the Federal constitution or state constitution. But non-Muslims will be given a choice of whether to be governed by hudud or Civil Law”.

To digress a little, that was how the Islamists in Aceh assured the non-Muslims in 2003. Non-Muslims were initially promised that syariah laws will not be extended and applied on non-Muslims, but later non-Muslims were given a choice ( “menunduk diri”). 

A decade later, syariah laws is now applicable and applied on non-Muslims and non-Muslims are also flogged in the compound of the mosque. 

So much for the promise. 

This is the same fate that awaits non-Muslims under PAS. Can non-Malays and Muslims trust PAS, who in the past has been proven to be untrustworthy?

Rightfully, Vigneswaran should have asked Hadi Awang a clear and direct question - “Will PAS impose hudud on non-Muslims”. 

Believe me, Hadi Awang would have in his usual manner shimmied from giving an honest answer and would have given a cryptic reply which would have been neither fish or fowl. 

Anyway, Vigneswaran may want to inform MIC members that it was Hadi Awang as the then Menteri Besar Of Trengganu, on July 7, 2002 when winding up the debate on Shariah Criminal Offences (Hudud and Qusas) Bill in the Terengganu state Assembly who in the clearest term declared that “when the time comes, hudud will be extended to non-Muslims”.

Vigneswaran and fellow MIC members just need to recall how PAS when they became the Trengganu state government, unleashed in earnest wave of oppressive policies and trampled the rights of non-Muslims. 

Overnight, unisex salons were closed, gambling was banned, entertainment outlets were shut down and only eight out of 39 outlets managed to renew their liquor licence. 

Add to that, in time supermarkets were asked to have separate male and female checkout counters and non-Muslims were “advised and educated on suitable and acceptable attire”. Maybe, Vigneswaran can ask Hadi Awang how many places of worship for non-Muslims were built let alone approved during his tenure as Menteri Besar.

If all these were not radical enough, the PAS state government under Hadi Awang even planned to impose Kharaj or Islamic Land Tax on properties owned by non-Muslims. It was only not implemented after the furore by DAP. 

Thus, don’t be surprised that if PAS becomes the Federal government, PAS may impose Jizya Tax or poll tax on non-Muslims.

Vigneswaran must remember that DAP has enough experience to know who Hadi Awang really is and the PAS brand of radicalism. 

On Oct 24, 1999 DAP together with Parti Keadilan Nasional and Parti Rakyat Malaysia formed a political alliance with PAS known as Barisan Alternatif. The alliance unravelled on Sept 11, 2001 after PAS unilaterally declared its intention to implement hudud which was never part of the Barisan Alternatif manifesto. 

Then, on April 1, 2008, DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat formed yet another alliance with PAS - this time known as Pakatan Rakyat. Though this alliance lasted a little longer than the first, on June 16, 2015 the alliance ended and yet again, it was because of the untrustworthy PAS insistence on establishing an Islamic state and hudud which was never part of the Pakatan Rakyat’s common manifesto.

In the present political dynamic, nothing precludes political parties to seek alliances but Vigneswaran and MIC not only should be wary of PAS when its agenda and goals are clear but more importantly not believe Hadi Awang and whatever assurances and promises he may make to non-Muslims.

Vigneswaran and MIC should not lead Indians like lambs to the slaughterhouse.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.