We worked together before, there were no issues then, DAP leaders tell Hadi

Four Malay DAP leaders have questioned why PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is now criticizing the party over its stance on Islam and the Federal Constitution when they previously collaborated within the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat. The DAP leaders, including Syahredzan Johan, Young Syefura Othman, Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali, and Syerleena Abdul Rashid, responded to Hadi's recent statement in which he accused the DAP of attempting to steer the constitution towards secular rule.

Hadi needs to explain why the issue was never a concern when PAS and DAP worked together in Pakatan Rakyat, which included contesting multiple elections together. The coalition, formed in 2008 by PAS, DAP, and PKR, won 82 parliamentary seats in the general election that year and governed several states, while PAS retained Kelantan.

After a dispute over hudud implementation, the coalition dissolved in 2015. The DAP leaders stated that the party has always contested elections and operated within the bounds of the constitution and law, regardless of whether it was in opposition or government. They emphasized their respect for parliamentary democracy, freedom of religion, and the legitimate interests of all communities, including the right to speak, learn, and teach in their mother tongues.

The DAP's "Malaysia for Malaysians" slogan, they argued, is based on equality under Article 8 of the constitution and does not reject other provisions, including Article 153 on the special position of Malays and Bumiputeras. They also argued that attacks on the party should not be used to disregard PAS's own political history, and that political disagreements should not be framed as accusations that non-PAS parties are un-Islamic, unpatriotic, or disrespectful of the constitution.

The leaders stressed that politics in Malaysia should advance through reasoned arguments and policies, rather than by instilling fear among different races and religions. They expressed regret that a political leader could employ language that might divide Malaysians, especially during National Month and the lead-up to the 69th National Day celebrations.