PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has criticised BN for its grip on the date of the next general election, claiming that only authoritarian nations operate this way to ensure victory for the incumbent government.

NONE“It is only in countries that practise a single-party system, such as the former communist states, that the government sets the election date at the last minute,” he said in a statement today.

“This is based on its comfort (in anticipating) victory (at a time when) the people are more likely to choose the incumbent party although it has made many mistakes.”

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has repeatedly refused to divulge the date of the next election - which must be held by next April - claiming that it is “top secret” and likening it to the secret recipe of Coca-Cola.

Hadi pointed out that, in democratic nations that protect the rights of citizens, the election date is determined by independent bodies.

“In Malaysia, the BN (federal) government chooses a way that ensures its victory forever. Therefore the BN government is the only body that has the power to set the election date, after all the preparations for victory are in place.

“After arranging the fraud, distribution of bribes to voters or (creating) issues that trap opposition parties, as well as spreading slander, then only is the date announced.”

'Democracy will come'

Hadi warned that democracy has found its way into many authoritarian states.
 
“The iron fist of the communist system that controlled the Soviet Union was broken and (the nation) moved towards democracy ....

suharto“The Philippines left (Ferdinand) Marcos behind in their memory, followed by Suharto (right) in Indonesia. Even the Arab states which were controlled by a junta that fixed election results even before the election... have undergone democratic reform. The same goes for Myanmar.”

Hadi called on the Muslim community to correct the image of Islam which has been ‘damaged by Umno’, by voting for PAS, while saying that other communities should back Pakatan Rakyat in its struggle to displace the BN.

“If victory follows, all flaws in the democratic system will be fixed ... (in future) the people may (even be able to) reject PAS and Pakatan through fair means, (if there are) mistakes and weaknesses in governance.”