PAS warns Najib against polls during Hajj
| Harakahdaily, | 12 June 2012 |
Jun 12: Top PAS leaders have today warned prime minister Najib Razak not to dissolve parliament during the Hajj season as a ploy to boost BN's chances of winning the next general election when thousands of Muslims would be away for the annual pilgrimage.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said Najib should be answerable for placing difficulty to people who have to fulfill their religious obligation if general election was called between September and October, when many Muslims are in the holy lands of Makkah and Madinah.
This year's Hajj falls at the end of October.
Mat Sabu however agreed with party information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s directive to members directly involved in the polls, including candidates, their representatives and election directors to postpone their Hajj if election was called during that time.
He asked why it was so difficult for Najib to announce the elections date.
"He is the one with power to dissolve parliament, not Tuan Ibrahim," said Mat Sabu, adding that only Najib could decide if Muslims should be stopped from going ahead with their pilgrimage.
“Who will campaign if a candidate goes for Hajj?” he asked.
Tuan Ibrahim has urged Najib to stop playing games with the election dates which he said led to inconvenience to the public in making plans.
“We want an assurance by the prime minister that the election will not be held during the Hajj season this year. It is better to avoid the date,” said the Pahang PAS commissioner.
Meanwhile, PAS secretary general Mustafa Ali also echoed a similar call.
“It’s up to Najib to decide on the date. But we ask for his guarantee that the Hajj season is avoided," he said, adding that Muslims have the responsibility to choose their government.
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said Najib should be answerable for placing difficulty to people who have to fulfill their religious obligation if general election was called between September and October, when many Muslims are in the holy lands of Makkah and Madinah.This year's Hajj falls at the end of October.
Mat Sabu however agreed with party information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s directive to members directly involved in the polls, including candidates, their representatives and election directors to postpone their Hajj if election was called during that time.
He asked why it was so difficult for Najib to announce the elections date.
"He is the one with power to dissolve parliament, not Tuan Ibrahim," said Mat Sabu, adding that only Najib could decide if Muslims should be stopped from going ahead with their pilgrimage.
“Who will campaign if a candidate goes for Hajj?” he asked.
Tuan Ibrahim has urged Najib to stop playing games with the election dates which he said led to inconvenience to the public in making plans.
“We want an assurance by the prime minister that the election will not be held during the Hajj season this year. It is better to avoid the date,” said the Pahang PAS commissioner.
Meanwhile, PAS secretary general Mustafa Ali also echoed a similar call.
“It’s up to Najib to decide on the date. But we ask for his guarantee that the Hajj season is avoided," he said, adding that Muslims have the responsibility to choose their government.
PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan meanwhile took to task UMNO-owned daily Utusan Malaysia for distorting Tuan Ibrahim's directive.
"The government is urging people to vote, so which one is it? To vote or to perform the Hajj?
"It's simple, if you want them do both, then don't have them at the same time!" he wrote on his Facebook page.
"The government is urging people to vote, so which one is it? To vote or to perform the Hajj?
"It's simple, if you want them do both, then don't have them at the same time!" he wrote on his Facebook page.
Earlier, PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang also warned Najib on the matter.
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