IPOH: PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang will have his statement recorded in the police’s ongoing investigation into his remarks that allegedly hit out at several parties, including the Malay Rulers.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said a special police investigation team, which specifically handles cases related to 3R issues (race, religion and royalty), has seven days to complete the probe.
“Investigation is still ongoing. Once the investigation is completed, the investigation paper will be referred to the Attorney General,” he said at a press conference during his visit to Rumah Seri Kenangan here yesterday.
Abdul Hadi had issued a statement titled “The Stature of Islam Must Be Defended”, which was published on the party’s portal on Feb 20.
His statement, which appeared to be directed at the Malay Rulers, came after the Federal Court struck out 16 criminal provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment (1) 2019 on Feb 9.
Saifuddin Nasution said he could only share specific details related to the matter and would not intervene in the investigations.
“If there are things that can be shared, I will share,” he said, adding that the police have received a number of reports on the matter.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said Abdul Hadi would have his statement recorded at PAS’ headquarters in Kuala Lumpur at 2.30pm today.
Razarudin said Abdul Hadi’s special officer set the date after informing the police about the Marang MP’s health condition, which was reported to be improving.
Last Friday, Razarudin was reported to have said that the police had opened an investigation paper under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Abdul Hadi also received a royal rebuke from Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah for being disrespectful and insolent towards the Malay Rulers.
Sultan Sharafuddin relayed in a letter that His Majesty was saddened by Abdul Hadi’s statement, which appeared to be targeted at religious scholars, lawyers, judges, MPs, assemblymen and the Malay Rulers.
The Ruler, who is the chairman of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI), had called for all Malaysians to respect the Federal Court’s decision and uphold the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the nation.
Sultan Sharafuddin called for calm while awaiting the results of a study by a special committee on the competency of state assemblies in enacting Islamic laws.
In the letter, Sultan Sharafuddin believed Abdul Hadi had made the statement without thoroughly reading the Sultan’s speech at the MKI meeting on Feb 15.
Sultan Sharafuddin described Abdul Hadi’s statement as highly inappropriate and ill-mannered from a Malay cultural perspective, besides being able to cause confusion and division among Muslims.
