KUALA LUMPUR – PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang gave his statement to police officers from Bukit Aman this afternoon as part of a sedition investigation against him for allegedly insulting the Malay rulers.
His statement was taken at the PAS headquarters on Jalan Raja Laut but Hadi did not appear before the press.
Hadi’s political secretary, Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman, said the party president cooperated with police, and declined to comment further, saying any statements on the matter would come from the authorities.
“We leave it to Bukit Aman. Tuan Guru (Hadi) gave his statement to police, and has read the statements by the Inspector-General of Police (Tan Sri Razarudin Husain) and Home Minister (Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail) about the case.
“On Hadi’s side, we will provide our full commitment and cooperation,” Syahir, who is also Bachok MP, told reporters.
On the questions police had asked Hadi, Syahir said this was for Bukit Aman to answer, adding that the party president had answered all questions posed to him.
He is also prepared to be summoned by police again if his health allows it, Syahir added.
Hadi, 76, is under investigation over an article posted on Facebook on February 20, titled “Ketinggian Islam Wajib Dipertahankan (Islam’s supremacy must be defended).” In it, he called Malaysia’s Federal Constitution a colonial law that was meant to suppress Islam, while also making remarks that allegedly insulted the Malay rulers.
The article led to a rebuke from Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah for disrespecting the constitution and the rulers.
Hadi today submitted a letter to Sultan Sharafuddin through the Selangor ruler’s private secretary Datuk Lela Bakti. The contents of the letter are not known.
Asked about this, Syahir said the contents should be left between the two parties.
Hadi, who is also Marang MP, has been investigated for sedition previously.
In August last year, Hadi was investigated after he allegedly disputed the Pardons Board’s authority during a political talk at PAS’ Bakri headquarters in Johor.
The PAS leader allegedly said the process of granting pardons to an offender in Malaysia went against Islamic teachings. – March 5, 2024