KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 ― Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang is not responsible for the lives lost during the Memali incident, PAS said today.
PAS central committee member Kamaruzaman Mohamad responded to an apology made by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saying that neither Hadi or the Islamist party should be held responsible over what happened.
“This is a common accusation, he even accused Hadi's mandate as cause for the incident, PAS strongly asserts that we have never been responsible for the Memali incident, it was caused by the aggression of the security personnel towards the unarmed civilians,” he said, referring to the “Amanat Hadi” speech that had allegedly caused the 1985 Memali tragedy.
“This is why we have been consistently asking that those who are responsible be held accountable for their actions.”
“We urge the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to ensure justice for the families of the victims of the Memali incident,” he added.
On November 19, 1985, a 576-strong police force attempted to arrest PAS leader Ibrahim Mahmood @ Ibrahim Libya at his home in Kampung Memali, Baling under the now defunct Internal Security Act (ISA) for creating discord and disharmony.
The attempt in Kedah left 14 villagers and four police officers dead as Ibrahim’s followers decided to take up arms and to defend him.
Prior to the police action, an excerpt of “Amanat Hadi” made in 1981 was distributed among PAS members. In the excerpt, Abdul Hadi called Umno and BN supporters infidels and called for a “jihad” (holy war) against them.
On former PAS religious leader, Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz's decision to contest under a PKR ticket, Kamaruzaman said PAS respected his political decision.
“We respect his democratic decision to follow Pakatan Harapan(PH), What happens with his mother is a family issues, we respect his political stand,” he said.
Earlier today, Nik Omar's mother, Tuan Sabariah Tuan Ishak had called him an “anak derhaka”(ungrateful child) for contesting under PH in Cempaka.
