Elak politik melabel, PAS disaran utamakan hujah

PAS, the opposition party, should critique the government but using labeling tactics by opponents invites criticism from various quarters. PAS is advised to use fact-based accusations to maintain the party's image and social harmony, as opposed to labeling opponents with religious terms. Syaza Shukri from Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia stated that labeling opponents is a cheap form of politics, especially when religious terms are used to attack them.

Syaza Shukri. People who are wise know that labeling is cheap politics to scare the public and supposedly mix religion with political issues, but the fact is merely a difference in opinion or desire, she told FMT. Mazlan Ali from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said that political differences should not undermine the relationship of community members and mutual respect among the Islamic community.

He said PAS has strong influence but the public would respect it more if it avoided labeling opponents. Mazlan Ali. PAS needs to critique the government because no government is perfect. As the opposition, PAS's job is to check the balance. The Coordinating Minister for Special Tasks, Deputy Leader of the Bersatu Party Muhyiddin Yassin, and five other Bersatu MPs, as well as Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, signed the Coordinating Minister's Statement (CSA).

The CSA granted the seven MPs' access to development funds for their parliamentary constituencies, which had been accepted by government MPs throughout the past four years. Recently, media reported that Hadi claimed CSA was signed between the government and seven opposition MPs as the 'biggest deception' – 'the biggest liar', which is considered a sign of the impending Doomsday in Islam.

In the statement, he accused CSA of being a doomsday approach that forces power to continue in the hands of a few instead of being an unquestionable trust to all. He said any party that becomes the government must fulfill its trust to the people directly without having to make an oath beforehand. Hadi's statement invited criticism from various parties, including PKR Deputy Youth Leader Kamil Munim, who reminded that the agreement had been signed when PAS was in government with PH in September 2021.

Former top Umno official Puad Zarkashi questioned whether Umno should also be considered a small 'deception', reminding that Umno is one of the parties that formed the unity government. In the Dewan Rakyat, Bersatu MP Suhaimi Abdullah said the 'deception' label raises concerns about commitment to promoting national unity. He said efforts to achieve understanding for the benefit of the people are difficult to realize if MPs who take a cooperative approach are also labeled as 'deception'.

Meanwhile, PAS MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari defended Hadi's statement regarding the use of the term 'deception', saying it does not refer to an individual signing CSA. He said the term refers to the approach in CSA which is accused of setting conditions for MPs to support before any fund is allocated to MPs.