LETTER | Hadi is testing steps in dangerous waters

LETTER | PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is actively testing his steps in dangerous waters since the Federal Court invalidated 16 out of 18 provisions of the Kelantan syariah law enactments last week.

For context, the Federal Court declared these provisions as void as they were not within the scope of the Kelantan state assembly to legislate them. Instead, the power is vested with the Parliament.

Though it is expected that PAS leaders will jump in to express their disappointment over the verdict, Hadi does not even care to use silver linings in his statement, something like “I am disappointed with the verdict but will still respect it”.

Most politicians would formulate their statements in such a manner when a court decision goes against their interest.

Instead, Hadi had quickly insinuated that the judges presiding this case were “bijaksini” or unwise when the judges were merely carrying out their duties to interpret the law based on the Federal Constitution, the supreme law of this nation.

After lawyers and politicians from the other side of the aisle criticised him, Hadi turned his guns towards the Constitution itself by labelling it as “crafted by colonisers who plotted an independence which hoodwinked the Muslims to never give power to Islam”.

He further claimed that “too many time bombs” were put inside the Constitution to “destroy religion, race and the motherland”.

Though the British colonial government did play a significant role in drafting the Federal Constitution, Hadi has been an MP since 1990 and his party was a part of the government when Perikatan Nasional ruled the country.

Having more than 30 years of experience in the legislative field, Hadi should have studied the Federal Constitution thoroughly and accepted the very fundamental principle that it is the supreme law of Malaysia.

It is utterly unacceptable and malicious of him to claim that the Federal Constitution was drafted to “hoodwink the Muslims” as it is clearly stated in its provisions that the supreme law protects the interest of all Malaysians, including the Muslims.

In addition, when PN was running the government, he could have pushed for the constitutional amendments needed to give more power to state assemblies in drafting Islamic laws.

He either did not do so or failed to do so. No matter which one is it, Hadi should not have blamed the Constitution for the clear separation of federal and state powers in respect to the spirit of federalism practised by Malaysia.

Hadi’s questioning of the Federal Court’s verdict and the status of the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the nation is a clear contempt of the judiciary and the concept of rule of law.

He should not be left off the hook.

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