KUALA SELANGOR, June 4 — Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang insisted today that PAS does not take a theocratic approach in which the Islamist party’s powerful clergy class cannot be questioned.
Faced with criticism against the conservatism of the PAS leadership, the incumbent president added that both the ulama and professionals need to be appreciated.
“PAS does not practise the concept of theocracy that worships theologians as the creator of rules and policies who cannot be disputed,” Hadi said during his keynote address at the party’s muktamar, or annual congress here.
Seeking to dispel rumours of a rift between these two groups in the party, Hadi said such claims to be made up by their detractors in political foe, Umno.
“The professionals are an important force in the party, just like the ulama and the activists. Indeed, we accept anybody who wants to contribute towards the victory of Islam,” Hadi said.
“Let there not be anybody among us who are trapped with the game of the enemy who are trying to split us by throwing the separative slogan between the ulama and the professionals.”
Hadi added that the professionals have remained instrumental with their contribution in the fields of economics, policy development, strategy, and international relations.
Hadi’s remarks comes in a day after its influential ulama wing endorsed yesterday a list of candidates for the party polls made entirely of the clergy class.
