“March 27, it’s believed, will be attended by many Umno people including former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, sacked Deputy Prime Minister and suspended Umno Deputy President Muhyiddin Yassin, and former Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir, among others.”
The Opposition, added Shahbudin Husin the analyst, will of course be there as well at the gathering. “Hadi, as a member of the Opposition, should in fact be on best terms with Mahathir, Muhyiddin and Mukhriz if he’s not anti-Umno people.”
“Hadi, as an Opposition leader, should be sitting up there on the stage on March 27, alongside other Opposition leaders. His place was with them to help resolve the current political quagmire, and not be seen with leaders who are a blot on the nation. Those who are a blot on the nation must be rejected.”
Shahbudin was commenting on Hadi’s statement on the March 27 gathering. “I am not anti-Umno people, only anti-Umno. We want to be on good terms with Umno people. Although Umno has made many mistakes, I don’t want to be associated with the March 27 gathering,” the analyst quoted Hadi as telling Sinar Harian, a Malay online daily. ”
Such arguments are not only strange, but appear twisted. Hadi should come clean and issue a statement outlining his party’s stand on corruption, transparency, public accountability and on good governance. He should state the PAS stand on harbouring wrongdoers.”
If Hadi was firm on his Islamic struggle, and at the same time wants to remain on good terms with Umno people, said the analyst, he should not be prejudiced or be reduced to cherry picking. So, there’s no reason for him to avoid his own Opposition leaders and also Umno people who want to be friends with all.”
Shahbudin wants to perish the thought that Hadi perhaps has time only for those who hold high positions and/or have billions in their personal accounts. “It’s perhaps not wise to think along these lines, lest it becomes the talk of the town.”
In any case, conceded the analyst, Hadi skipping the March 27 gathering wasn’t strange at all. “What’s strange are the reasons he has advocated for skipping the gathering.”
“Since when did PAS want to consider only Umno as its enemy but not the people in the party? Since when did PAS want to be friends with Umno people.”
It was not so long ago, recalled the analyst, that PAS tarred Umno members with the same brush about being infidels, rebels, unIslamic and the like. “Hence Hadi’s statement on the March 27 gathering shows that he and his party are inconsistent on their political stand, blowing with the wind, changing at every excuse.”
Shahbudin said this raises the question of who are the Umno people whom Hadi wants to befriend. “He has to state whether he would consider Umno people who want to fight wrongdoing as among his friends.”
“This means he must avoid those who are covering up wrongdoing and sweeping them under the carpet. These are the people who have scandals here and there.”
Hadi, by taking an anti-Umno stand, argued Shahbudin, must avoid like the plague those who have brought the party into public disrepute and contempt. “Such leaders have become the butt of jokes in the social media and a laughing stock among the international community.”