KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — Muslims should control Malaysian politics because its adherents make up the majority of the country's population, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang insisted yesterday.

The president of Islamist party PAS further claimed that in Islam, a religion that dominates a country should lead the nation.

"And since Malays are the majority in this country, they will have to be leaders.

"Non-Muslims do not have to worry because we have to go by the population's breakdown to ensure a harmonious country," he was quoted saying in Malay daily Sinar Harian.

Hadi reportedly said the country is made up of 65 per cent of Muslims and 35 per cent of non-Muslims.

According to the last census at 2010, Muslims make up 61.3 per cent of the population.

Hadi also was quoted saying non-Muslims need not worry of tyranny or unequal treatment, claiming Islam forbids leaders to act in such way against anyone, including the non-Muslims.

Hadi is currently seeking to raise the Shariah courts’ maximum sentencing limits to 30 years’ jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the cane. The current limits are three years’ jail, RM5,000 fine and six strokes.