Huge Turnout At PAS Ceramah In UMNO Stronghold

Huge turnout at Hadi's ceramah in Umno stronghold

Malaysiakini 

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• View PhotoHuge turnout at Hadi's ceramah in Umno stronghold
• View PhotoHuge turnout at Hadi's ceramah in Umno stronghold

PENANG PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had a pleasant surprise to see some 3,000 people at his ceramah in the rural state seat of Penaga last night.

They sat on mats with their spouses and children - under BN's blue flags, streamers and candidates' posters - at a field close to a BN operations centre.

In his speech, Hadi assured Malaysians that Islam can deal with the needs of a multiracial country, while reminding Muslims to be compassionate in their dealings with non-Muslims.

"It is not wrong to love your own community, but do not be cruel to others," he said in remarks directed at Muslims.

"This is why PAS has worked with others even though it has a different ideology, religion and way of life. (But) we cannot force others to follow our ways or vice-versa."

Hadi said everyone accepts the fact that the federal government is "Malay Muslim-based", although there are provisions for non-Muslims to become ministers and to hold portfolios other than those related to Islam.
He appeared to have come to Penang on two missions - the first was to assure PAS supporters that the Chinese-majority DAP will not become the most powerful entity in Pakatan Rakyat should the coalition take

Putrajaya on Sunday.

The second was to resolve tensions following overlapping claims to the Sungai Acheh between PAS and PKR. State PAS Youth chief Yusni Mat Piah has had to withdraw from contesting the general election in favour of PKR's Badrul Hisham Shaharin.

"Of the 222 parliamentary seats, PAS is contesting 73, while DAP is contesting 50 and PKR 99. There are 145 Malay-Muslim MPs in Pakatan, while BN has 131. As for non-Muslims, Pakatan has 77 and the BN has 99," Hadi said.

"PKR is contesting the most seats as it has several ethnic groups, including those from Sabah and Sarawak. So how can people say that if we win, DAP will dominate Pakatan?"

'Why not give BR1M for life?'

He reminded the people that a welfare state, as proposed at the PAS' muktamar last year in Kota Bahru, is accepted in Islam and has features such as free medical treatment and free education.
In a welfare state, taxes are levied on the rich to help the poor, while leaders are kind and benevolent, he said.

"The BR1M (Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia) payment is a good gesture but let it be (handed out) for life and not only during an election," he suggested.

"Instead of BR1M, it is better to reduce the cost of petrol, construction materials and foodstuff so that contractors and businessmen can make some profit and the rakyat do not have to pay so much."
He reminded the people that, when he was menteri besar of Terengganu in 1999, he had tried to abolish toll payments and to reduce the assessment charge.

However, because the federal government witheld the state's RM800,000 annual oil royalty payment, his administration had been forced to increase taxes on trade and business.

While he said the people understood the need to increase taxes, he described the federal government's action as a "betrayal".

Hadi, who was on a day-long visit to Penang, had earlier flagged off a 1km-long convoy to Tasek Gelugor, where he addressed a crowd of 600.

He performed the evening prayers at a mosque in Permatang Pauh and then spoke briefly to a crowd of 1,000 in Kubang Semang before heading to Penaga.

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