PAS has doubled down to insist that non-Muslim and non-bumis are the root of corruption in Malaysia, with PAS central committee member Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki, quoting dubious statistics to justify Hadi’s racist and extremist take that corruption has an ethnic and religious dimension. This contradicts Transparency International Malaysia which has called for the government to act against Abdul Hadi for targeting non-Muslim and non-bumis, when corruption is a universal problem that is colour blind.
Mohd Zuhdi Marsuki quoted an unspecified survey by an unnamed “local university” conducted from 2010 to 2014 that 88% of 449 individuals convicted of bribery are non-Malays – with 57.46 % being Chinese, 30.51 % Indian and Malays at 12.03 % whilst the Malays were the majority when it comes to receiving bribes. Even assuming the statistics as accurate, Mohd Zuhdi is providing a disturbing racial and extremist bias that is wrong and dishonest.
By blaming those who give bribes as causing corruption ignores the fact that those who receive bribes may have compelled the giver to do so. In many respects, the onus of blame and responsibility falls on the receiver because should the receiver refuse, but report the bribe to the authorities instead, the crime of corruption would not have happened.
Clearly, Zuhdi is just as racist and extremist as Abdul Hadi. Zuhdi had previously lied about PH surrounding themselves with those involved in the “sin industry” and “black economy” – who tend to engage in corruption. Zuhdi further claimed again without any evidence to back him up, that those in these two areas of the economy sought the protection of “non-bumiputera political parties” to keep their ill-gotten gains.
The government must take action against Abdul Hadi Awang to prove that corruption is colour-blind and disprove his racist and extremist remarks non-Bumis and non-Muslims are the root of corruption in Malaysia. Even Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) President Muhammad Mohan had labelled Abdul Hadi as racist and potentially seditious, urging the police and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission to take action against Abdul Hadi for making such an irresponsible statement. To-date the PAS President has remained unrepentant and unashamed that he poses a clear and present danger to Malaysian unity and national integration between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
This has led to police reports against Abdul Hadi and he being investigated under Section 505(C) of the Penal Code for allegedly causing public mischief and incitement, as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 2008 for abuse of network services. Will the government act or provide “immunity” to Abdul Hadi because he is part of the government?