YOURSAY | The dehumanisation of ‘others’, PAS-style

[superadmin]

GanMu: It is shocking and embarrassing indeed to read the denigrating terms used by the president of a religious party in describing those from other parties.

It is basic human decency to call another person by his or her name and use proper terms to refer to your opponents.

How can one expect to believe in PAS leader Abdul Hadi Awang and have respect for him when he calls fellow Malaysians "mice, cats and all sorts" but not the proper terminology such as "people with different race and religion" or "opponents who differ in opinion from us”?

Why is he so spiteful and full of hatred for his opponents? He has never learnt from this - that every human being is precious in this world.

We have been taught never to use such derogatory terms, even against our perceived enemies. To us humankind is the creation of God, we have no right to denigrate them.

We may have differences of opinion, religion and race, but we should learn to set aside these differences and live together towards a common goal. This is what every religion teaches us - "to love".

For the sake of good order, politics and religion should not and never mix. PAS, being a religious party, should confine itself to promoting Islam and teaching good values.

When these PAS leaders decide to become politicians, that’s when all hell breaks loose. They start naming and shaming all and sundry who come in their way and their religion takes a back seat.

Today's PAS leaders are more interested in the "benefits" that come with their positions in government. Having tasted that, they will go to any extent to not only retain what they have but try to get more by all means.

If Muslims want to support a Malay-only party, they have many choices in Umno, Amanah, Bersatu and Pejuang. PAS has to make up its mind – it’s either religion or politics. They can’t have the cake and eat it.

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