Endemic corruption in the government highlighted by scandal after scandal provided ample fodder for PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang's opening speech at the PAS annual general assembly today during which he also warned that it was compulsory for the party to fight tyranny and that pacifism had its limits.

Speaking to the delegates in Kota Baru this morning, Hadi began by launching a salvo on Abdullah's adoption of Islam Hadhari or Civilisational Islam.

"What is amazing is that he, who is supposedly masterful with the interpretations of Islam Hadhari, is continuously subject to exposure of corrupt practices within his own administration," said Hadi.

"As he speaks of human capital development and anti-corruption drives, this prime minister is humiliated by unending exposures of scandals, bribery and flagrant abuse of power by his deputy Internal Security Minister and the ex-Anti Corruption Agency chief.

"What hounds him also are allegations that the two chief ministers of Sabah and Sarawak have been exposed for corruption involving hundreds of millions of ringgit," he said.

Hadi also mentioned the government's controversial purchases of Scorpene submarines with RM530 million in commissions allegedly paid out to a private company linked to the Defence Ministry.

He also mentioned analyst Razak Baginda, associated with Deputy Prime Minister Razak Najib, who is charged with abetment in the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shariibu. The trial is due to start on Monday.

Media stranglehold

"All these are questions marks that need to be answered by this Islam Hadhari government. This is the biggest fear of the people, an endemic disease whereby the nation is ruled by pirates disguised in 'kopiah' and 'tarbus' (Islamic headgear).
Hadi described PAS as an Islamic party which chose the democratic approach.

He said there was an erosion of democracy in the country through 'unjust elections' and 'trickery of the highest order'.

In addition, he said there were laws which restricted freedom such as Internal Security Act (ISA), the Emergency Ordinance (EO) and the University and University Colleges Act (Uuca).

"These put a stranglehold on the media, put fear into all facets of society, force government officers to swear by the 'Akujanji' (pledge of allegiance) to be absolutely loyal as one would to Allah, or even more so.

"PAS has not forgotten the reaction of the undemocratic BN government to our victory in Kelantan and Terengganu. We have not forgotten the unfair treatment against our elected representatives, who, through their dauntless struggles, had to overcome this regression in democracy.

Hadi described the 2004 elections, where the ruling government won 92 percent of parliamentary seats, as 'dirtier than previous elections'. He alleged that at least 128,000 voters in Selangor were denied the right to cast their vote.

A new low

He said BN government continues '... through all means of lying, confidence trickery and abuse of power' to violate the Election Offences Act and the Election Regulations in by-elections including the recent ones at Batu Talam, Machap and Ijok.

"[Ijok] saw their repugnant behaviour descend to a new low through the introduction of thugs [to win the by-election]," he said.

Hadi said PAS had successfully educated its members to be resilient in the face of election fraud adding Islam forbids members to continue to be 'oppressed under such tyranny'.

"It is compulsory to fight tyranny and fraud. Pacifism has its limits. It is prohibited to continue to be insulted and surrender to those who do not respect truth and justice.

He called for Election Commission to clean up the electoral rolls, introduce the use of indelible ink and abolish postal voting to make the country's election process more transparent and fairer to all parties.