Please refer to my previous postings dated 5 January 2011, 7 January 2011, 10 January 2011, 14 January 2011 respectively. (Lily)
The Malaysian Insider (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)
(1) A Muslim perspective on Christmas — Abdul Malik Mujahid, 25 December 2010
Christmas is an annual Christian religious holiday commemorating the birth of Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him. For many Muslims who even do not celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, it becomes an issue of what stand they should take.
There have been a number of legitimate criticisms of the holiday from Muslims and non-Muslims based on theological and cultural considerations. However, this cannot be used to disregard the holiday as merely an exercise in ancient pagan practices, for instance, or excessive consumerism. Muslims have to remember that for practicing Christians, Christmas really is about Jesus.
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was so accommodating of Christians that according to the two earliest Islamic historians, Ibn Saad and Ibn Hisham, the Prophet even allowed a delegation of 60 Byzantine Christians from Najran in Yemen to worship in his own mosque in Madinah.
Lead by their bishop (Usquf), they had come to discuss a number of issues with him. When time of their prayer came, they asked the Prophet’s permission to perform this in the mosque. He answered, “conduct your service here in the mosque. It is a place consecrated to God.”
God expects us to stay away from mocking the religious beliefs of others, no matter how much we disagree with them. He says in the Quran: “And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides God, lest they insult God wrongfully without knowledge. Thus We have made fair-seeming to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall then inform them of all that they used to do” (Quran, 6:108).
We also have to remember that even if for many nominal Christians, the celebration is not really about participating in religious traditions, Christmas is a time for families to get together. In a number of cases it is the only time of year families get together, either because family members are scattered in different parts of the country or the world, because of communication and relationship problems, or because in America today, the family unit is becoming weaker and weaker.
Christmas is a great time to relate to our neighbors. We should not forget though, that “relating” does not mean “preaching”. Da’wah cannot be made in a rude manner. Allah says in the Quran: “Invite (all) to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful advice, and reason with them by ways that are the best and most gracious: because your Lord knows best, (those) who have strayed from His Path, and those who receive guidance “ (Quran, 16:125).
In particular, when dealing with Jews and Christians, Allah says: “Do not argue with the People of the Book unless it is in the politest manner, except for those of them who do wrong. Say: ‘We believe in what has been sent down to us and what has been sent down to you. Our God and your God is [the same] One, and we are Muslims before Him’“ (Quran, 29:46).
This may not be an occasion to emphasis the differences as much as the commonality of our beliefs, unless someone is really asking you about them.
A starting point for a discussion about Christmas could be the Islamic belief in all Books revealed by Allah and all Prophets sent by Him. In this discussion, special emphasis could be made on Prophet Jesus. Non-Muslims are often surprised to discover that Muslims also believe in this noble Prophet and his great mother Mary (peace be upon her).
Remember that respect does not mean compromise. This article is not asking you to compromise anything. You have freedom of religion given by God to believe in what you believe in. But in a world where conflict is increasing, a Muslim should be a bridge- builder and a peacemaker. It was due to the Muslim practice of Islamic ideals of respect and tolerance that the key of the holiest Christian Shrine in Jerusalem, the church of the Holy Sepulcher, remains entrusted with a Muslim family, as it has been for over 1400 years.
These are the lessons which need to be learned by those extremists who attack Christians during their worship in Nigeria and those extremists who burn Masjids in the USA. — harakahdaily.net/en
・ This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
(2) Archbishop’s Christmas wish: PM’s time for inter-faith group, 25 December 2010
by Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — Catholic Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam has asked Datuk Seri Najib Razak today to support an inter-faith group by meeting them regularly.
Pakiam said the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) should be given more opportunities.
“In your busy and overloaded schedule honourable prime minister, may we humbly request you to make time for the multi-religious body MCCBCHST. If you can find the time to meet their leaders regularly for some good-willed feedback,” he said during a Christmas tea party organised by the Malaysian Christian Association .
Interfaith dialogue at the sub-committee level was scheduled to start on April 13 but was called off at the last minute after the MCCBCHST took offence at reported remarks by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Ties between the Muslim and non-Muslim camps within the committee were further strained after the Council of Muftis contested the committee’s name and demanded a change.
The muftis had unanimously voted for a name change demand on April 3, claiming the present name would cause confusion among Malaysian Muslims.
However Datuk Seri Najib Razak has recently pledged full administrative and financial support to revive his Cabinet’s stillborn interfaith panel.
Sources told The Malaysian Insider that Najib met in all 35 members of the newly renamed Committee for the Understanding and Harmony Among Religious Adherents in September.
The Cabinet-endorsed committee was set up in April, after a series of attacks on houses of worship nationwide following a controversial court ruling last year allowing Christians the right to call their God “Allah” in Bahasa Malaysia.
The panel was formerly called the Special Committee to Promote Inter-Religious Harmony and Understanding.
The Malaysian Insider understands the prime minister wanted the committee to be more action-oriented, and has promised to fund any social and welfare activity that can draw multi-religious groups closer.
The country’s multi-religious leaders will also go on a retreat early next year to draw up practical solutions to faith issues, as debate over Muslim and non-Muslim rights continue to heat up.
The relationship between the Muslim and non-Muslim communities appear to have soured after YouTube videos of two preachers — one belittling Islam and the other, Buddhism as well as traditional Chinese beliefs — went viral on local political blogs.
Last October, a video of a Malay Christian convert accused of insulting Islam – Malaysia’s official religion and one held by some 60 per cent of the population – in a Sarawak church six years ago, created an uproar among Muslims after it was highlighted by a Malay-Muslim blogger.
“We ourselves pledge our vocal support to form our peoples in their broad, large heartedly, tolerant, forgiving, accommodating and respectful embrace of all peoples in this great country that we all love,” Pakiam added.
(3) Apostasy law will create fear, says Archbishop, 26 December 2010
by Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
Archbishop Pakiam introducing Prime Minister Najib to the staff of Jaya Rehabilitation centre at Bukit Nanas yesterday (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — Catholic Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam believes enforcing of an apostasy law in Sabah by the state’s Islamic authorities will create fear as it will lead to a religious crackdown.
Pakiam said the state government must instead follow Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s message of moderation and inclusiveness.
“It (apostasy law) will create fear and it is unfortunate that these things come about like that. That is why we need to heed the call of the prime minister for moderates to be counted,” the country's top Catholic cleric told The Malaysian Insider.
“The (Federal) government must take a stand and not to cover this and keep quiet,” he added.
Sabah Islamic Affairs Department’s (Jheains) director Datuk Amri A.Suratman said yesterday that the state will enforce the apostasy law once its faith rehabilitation centre in Kinarut is ready next year.
He added that the enforcement of the law is part of Jheains five-year strategic plan. The plan will include focusing on dakwah (preaching) efforts in strategic and rural areas, especially those with a high number of converts.
While Islam is the country’s official religion followed by some 60 per cent of the country’s 27 million population, there is also a large number of Christian community, a majority of whom comes from Sabah and Sarawak.
While freedom of religion is guaranteed for non-Muslims under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, all Malays are Muslims under the law.
Islamic laws forbid Muslims from renouncing their religion and the country’s Islamic legal system has provisioned that a state must impose mandatory punishment for apostasy.
The country’s dual system of both Islamic law and federal law has resulted in controversies to the freedom of religion under Article 11 when Muslims try to convert to other religions.
The prominent cases include Lina Joy (Azalina Jailani), Revathi Massosai and Nyonya Tahir (Wong Ah Kiu).
The decision to enforce apostasy law is set to further strain the relationship between Muslim and non-Muslim communities.
The Cabinet has set up an inter-faith panel in April, after a series of attacks on houses of worship nationwide following a controversial court ruling last year that allowed Christians the right to use the word “Allah” when referring to God in Bahasa Malaysia.
Najib has also pledged full administrative and financial support to revive the committee.
Ikim, the federal government’s think-tank, had also issued a statement on the issue, saying that under Islam “not all religions are equal”.
Religious authorities also recently arrested a Shi’a group in Gombak.
Some 200 local and foreign followers of the Shi’a group Hauzah Ar Ridha Alaihissalam were arrested at a house in Taman Sri Gombak amid concerns that their activities constituted a security threat.
The group, led by two men, including an Iranian national, had been operating in the four-storey shop-house for up to two years.
Followers included locals, Indonesians, Burmese, a Pakistani, an Iranian, some of whom are higher institution lecturers and students, lawyers and civil servants. Several children were also found at the location.
The arrests have been criticised by former Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin as proof that Malaysia was heading towards “an era of Talibanisation”.
(4) ‘Paranoid’ aides told church to remove crosses for Najib visit, 29 December 2010
by Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 – Catholic church officials were told to remove crucifixes and to avoid hymns being sung when Prime Minister Najib Razak attended the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur’s Christmas tea party last Saturday.
The overzealous bid to protect the prime minister’s Islamic credentials was described by sources familiar with what happened as “paranoid” and done without Najib’s knowledge.
The sources also noted the actions of officials from the prime minister’s office could have jeopardised warming religious ties.
The Malaysian Insider understands that Najib’s men may have been spooked by the National Fatwa Council’s recent repeated announcements over Muslims at non-Muslim celebrations and had tripped over themselves to ensure his attendance at the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur’s Christmas Day high-tea passed without a hitch.
It was Najib’s first time attending a Christian function in his official role since taking over power in April last year.
The Malaysian Insider understands the PM had been invited to last year’s open house hosted by the Mar Thoma church in Brickfields here, but did not attend.
Najib has been instrumental in bringing the heads of different creeds to the same table earlier this year to try and peacefully resolve the long-standing interfaith disputes after a series of attacks against houses of worship nationwide.
The violence erupted following a controversial court ruling allowing Christians to also use the word “Allah” to refer to God beyond the Muslim context.
Sources disclosed that this year, the PM’s aides had issued a list of instructions to Archbiship Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam to facilitate Najib’s attendance on Christmas Day.
Among the directives given were:
. To remove any overt Christian symbol, such as crucifixes, from the party premises
. That carollers not belt out hymns
. Not to quote from Scriptures or say any Christian prayer during the visit.
Similar conditions have been laid in previous Christmas celebrations, including those graced by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong himself, said a member of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), the umbrella body representing the various denominations.
The instructions usually came from the staff without the knowledge of the dignitary, said the insider who has been on the organising committee on more than one occasion.
“Previously, the carollers even sang some Christmas hymns. The King was there. No one made a fuss. I don’t think they heard.
“I suspect the PM would not have objected either,” he had observed that a member of Najib’s office had conferred with Pakiam and made a quick circuit of the party grounds at Bukit Nanas shortly before the PM dropped in.
The Archbishop could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
But another member of the CFM echoed the observation.
“No conditions from PM. Only from his staff. That resolved by ABP very quickly,” the source told The Malaysian Insider in a text message, calling the Archbishop by initials.
The sources noted that Najib’s aides had little to be anxious about as the party was held outdoors where several marquees had been set up, where religious paraphernalia were the least likely to be fixed.
Grace was said before Najib turned up.
There were two groups of carollers serenading the crowd – one from Africa, the other a local outfit – but the guests were too caught up in their chatter and did not appear to be paying them any attention.
“They were overly fearful but there was nothing for them to be fearful about,” a source pointed out, dismissing Najib’s aides as too “paranoid”.
(5) PM owes Christians an apology for aides’ Christmas blunder, says PR, 30 December 2010
by Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) politicians today called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to take responsibility and publicly apologise for his aides’ gaffe at the Catholic archbishop’s Christmas tea party here last Saturday.
The Malaysian Insider had yesterday reported that Najib’s men had instructed church officials to remove crucifixes and other overt Christian symbols from being displayed at the party grounds in Bukit Nanas before the PM’s visit in their zeal to protect his Islamic credentials.
Hymns and prayers were also barred.
Sources disclosed that the orders were issued without the PM’s knowledge.
Leaders from the DAP, PAS and PKR urged Najib to act promptly and make clear his stand on the instructions, saying that further delay could harm Malaysia’s still fragile interfaith ties.
PAS lawmaker Khalid Samad described the actions taken by Najib’s aides as a “blatant act of religious intolerance” that reflected the prevailing attitude of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
“Christians have the right to celebrate their religious festivals as they see fit. I don’t see why Najib’s men had to go and give orders to remove this or that,” he told The Malaysian Insider today.
“It would be just like going to Batu Caves and telling the Hindus to remove the statues there,” he added.
“That’s the problem with Umno-BN all this while. They do all these unnecessary things that are completely unacceptable,” said the Shah Alam MP who has been derisively called “Khalid Gereja” by political rivals for his sympathy towards non-Muslims.
He explained that right-thinking Muslims understood that they were not celebrating the festival but showing respect and solidarity to followers of other creeds at such festivals.
“You’re not celebrating that festival because you don’t believe in that religion.
“You’re there to show not animosity but respect and solidarity and acknowledge they have the right to practise their religion,” he stressed.
Khalid noted that Najib could have easily avoided the ruckus if he had given clear directives to his staff on his personal policy regarding visits for religious occasions.
“If he felt that he was going to feel uncomfortable with all the crosses there, then he shouldn’t have gone.
“Otherwise, if he understands that as a Muslim his faith won’t be compromised... he should have told his men,” the 53-year-old said.
“The logical way to treat the situation now is for him to apologise on behalf of his aides and put the matter right,” said Khalid.
Kok said the PM should take full responsibility and apologise.
Selangor DAP chief Teresa Kok accused the prime minister of trying to curb religious freedom and demanded he take full responsibility and apologise.
“Najib should apologise to [the] Christian Federation of Malaysia for ‘de-Christianising’ their Christmas celebration,” she said in a strongly-worded media statement today.
The Selangor state executive councillor insisted that Najib must have given the orders and was distancing himself from his men’s actions in a bid to save face.
“Such an order from the Prime Minister’s Office’s (PMO) shows how insincere and ungracious Najib behaved as a guest at the celebration held at the Catholic archbishop’s residence.
“It is doubtful that Najib could have been unaware that his office had issued such a directive and far more likely that he is back-pedalling after having been exposed and publicly shamed,” she said.
Kok, a Christian, reminded Najib and the PMO that there is a “deeper meaning to Christmas beyond the Santa Claus and snow, and that that deeper meaning should be respected”.
Nik Nazmi said Christians have a right to be offended.
“Christians have a right to be offended,” PKR’s communications chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad told The Malaysian Insider today.
The Seri Setia state assemblyman echoed both Khalid and Kok in denouncing the PMO’s tactless actions.
He said the conditions imposed on the Catholic church pointed to a deeply-entrenched system set up by Umno and the BN to keep the nation divided along religious lines.
“In Malaysia, because of Umno and BN, they [Muslims] don’t know much. That creates schizophrenia and this problem among the Muslims and non-Muslims,” said Nik Nazmi.
He said Muslims elsewhere were not fearful that their beliefs would be compromised if they shared in the festivities of followers of another creed.
“I think the PM should state clearly that they were wrong and it will not be repeated.
“It can get quite serious because ultimately the buck stops with him. He is the boss. He has to take accountability,” he said.
Nik Nazmi hinted that the nation’s tenuous religious situation may spiral out of control again unless Najib steps in quickly and addresses the issue.
Malaysia was rocked by a series of attacks against houses of worship in January this year following a controversial court ruling in favour of the Catholic church over the use of the word “Allah”.
(6) In Najib’s silence, priests forced to clarify ‘blunder’, 5 January 2011
by Clara Chooi
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 — The Najib administration’s latest “Christmas blunder” has religious leaders in a mad scramble to explain to Christians that the church had not bowed to a directive to remove religious symbols during a Christmas party a fortnight ago.
The Malaysian Insider understands that over the weekend, Catholic priests were forced to address the issue as it had caused an uproar among parishioners who questioned why the church had adhered to such “overzealous” requests, allegedly made by the prime minister’s aide.
But the leaders also agreed that despite their attempts at defusing the situation, the “damage has already been done”, resulting in a rekindling of the same tension that rose during last year’s “Allah” controversy.
Father Simon Labrooy, who spoke on the issue during two separate masses, predicted that the Christian community’s anger was not likely to dissipate until the premier publicly clarified his stand.
He agreed that the administration, now mulling snap polls, would encounter an “angry” Christian electorate if it failed to address the issue.
“Najib should say something about it... he should make a statement to clarify whether the instruction had indeed been given and whether he plans to take action against the person who stirred up this whole thing.
“If the instruction truly did not come from him, then he should take action because this whole thing has created disharmony and animosity among Christian followers,” he told The Malaysian Insider when contacted.
The prime minister has been silent on the issue.
Since the issue erupted last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has not issued a formal statement on the matter.
It was reported that an official from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed that the premier had been “completely unaware” of the directive issued by his aide.
The official was also quoted as saying that the PMO would not respond to the incident as it did not want to prolong the issue but gave its assurance that the aide, a non-Muslim, had been advised against repeating such a directive without going through senior officials.
The aide had reportedly listed out several conditions on Catholic Archbishop Murphy Pakiam to facilitate Najib’s attendance at the Christmas tea-party held at his home, including the removal of religious symbols like crucifixes from the venue.
Questions later arose over whether the archbishop had complied with the requests, resulting in rising anger among the Christian community towards both Najib and Pakiam himself.
Labrooy said he was forced to clear the air over the issue by explaining during his sermons that the archbishop had not “compromised God for man’s need” and had not complied with the requests.
A parishioner told The Malaysian Insider that the Catholic priest had repeated his words twice, first during New Year’s and again the following Sunday, that Pakiam had not submitted to the directive despite speculations suggesting otherwise.
“Father Simon said that he was aware of the many speculations and how people were upset that the archbishop had complied with the requests.
“He told us that the Catholic church had stood its ground and refused to comply. But it makes little difference. Najib should apologise and fire his aide,” said the church-goer.
Labrooy confirmed this with The Malaysian Insider, adding that he had wanted to silence conjecture on the issue.
“There seems to be suggestions that Pakiam had relented to the requests and this is putting him in a bad light. It is not right.
“However, it is true... the damage has already been done. Many people are very angry that the directive was issued in the first place and this does will not look good on the government,” he said.
Father Michael Chua agreed with Labrooy and stressed that Pakiam had not needed to comply with the directive as the function had been held at the carpark of his home where there were no Christian symbols.
“I was there and there had been no changes to the itinerary for the function. It is just that the prime minister came at the time when prayers had already been said.
“Also, it was at the carpark, so there was no removal of crosses or anything. The reports in the media suggested that we had to remove them but it is not true,” he said.
Chua is in charge of the Ministry of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs of the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese, and is a part of the Christian Federation of Malaysia which organised the function on Christmas day last year.
He admitted that since the media exposed the issue last week, religious leaders have been finding it difficult to explain the matter to their followers.
“We have been having problems explaining to the congregation. The most important thing is the context of the matter — it was a carpark and there were no crosses there.
“We have been having it here for the past few years and this was just the first time that the prime minister attended. There was no deliberate removal [of Christian symbols] and we did not take seriously any of the requests,” he said.
Chua stressed that the function had gone on according to plan and it had also seen the attendance of political leaders from the opposition.
“But many people have been angered by this. First, they directed their anger to the government and then to the archbishop and this is not fair. We have been trying to explain it but many do not want to hear the explanation,” he said.
Chua would not say if he felt the prime minister should apologise on behalf of his aide but insisted that the matter not be taken out of context.
“Also, it was a CFM affair, hosted by the archbishop. CFM will meet soon and perhaps then we will discuss it. If we have an issue with it, we will take it up with the authorities,” he said.
The Malaysian Insider reported last week that the prime minister’s aide had issued a list of directives to Pakiam to facilitate Najib’s attendance at the Christmas tea-party on Christmas day.
Among the directives given were: to remove any overt Christian symbol, such as crucifixes, from the party premises and that carollers not belt out hymns and not to quote from Scriptures or say any Christian prayers during the visit.
At the time of publication, Pakiam could not be reached for comment.
Pakiam reportedly said this week that the directive was probably issued by an “overzealous officer”. He also refused to wade deeper into the matter by saying, “Let us not waste time on things like these.”
(7) Najib keeps mum over Christmas eve dinner with King, PAS, 7 January 2011
by Clara Chooi
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak joined PAS’ spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat today in refusing to divulge details of their recent Christmas Eve dinner, adhering to to the Agong’s wishes.
“We have to respect the understanding of the meeting and the Yang di-Pertuan wishes it to be a private meeting,” he told reporters in a press conference at his office today.
The Malaysian Insider reported on Monday that Nik Aziz had attended a private Christmas Eve dinner, hosted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, along with Najib and and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at Istana Terengganu.
The dinner was seen as another attempt to revive the talks on political co-operation with Umno in the name of Malay/Muslim unity, a move that that has spooked several leaders from PKR and DAP.
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution was reported to have gone to Kelantan on Wednesday to meet with Nik Aziz but the Machang MP later denied that he had discussed the Christmas dinner with the Kelantan Mentri Besar.
“I always meet the MB, it is not a strange occurrence if a member of Parliament in Kelatan meets the Kelantan MB. It was a normal meeting, we discussed lots of things — local housing projects, Kelantan politics as well as national politics,” Saifuddin had told The Malaysian Insider.
Nik Aziz too had played down the issue and said on Tuesday that he would not reveal details of the meeting with Najib, which he confirmed was also attended by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
Najib insisted today that he, along with several PAS leaders, had attended the dinner out of respect for the Agong’s invitation.
“That is why we were present. That is all. No further comment,” he said.
Word of the renewed unity talks is causing concern among PAS’ allies in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) as it took place just a week after the coalition had its second convention in Penang to discuss their policies and programmes ahead of snap polls expected this year.
However, a debate on the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims had ensued during the talk, which ended discussions of a political merger between the two Malay parties then.
The Malaysian Insider understands that an Umno leader at the talks spoke about the need for Malay unity as he said non-Malays were seen to be taking advantage of a split between Umno and PAS to ask for greater concessions including the right to use the word “Allah”, in what was seen as a reference to the Catholic Church’s lawsuit to use the word in its Bahasa Malaysia publication.
However, sources said PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz defended non-Muslims and objected to that conjecture, giving a short history lesson to point out that even Prophet Muhammad’s father, Abdullah, had worshipped Allah although he was not a Muslim.
The question of political co-operation with Umno became a major campaign issue in the 2009 PAS election after it was revealed that its leaders, including PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Selangor chief Datuk Hasan Ali, met Abdullah and former Selangor mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo after Election 2008 to explore the possibility of forming a unity government.
Leaders aligned to Nik Aziz then accused Nasharuddin of conspiring to take PAS out of PR, but the deputy president successfully defended his post in a three-cornered fight with Mohamad Sabu and Kelantan executive councillor Datuk Husam Musa.
PAS now holds 23 parliamentary seats within the PR coalition and controls two states, Kelantan and Kedah. The other two PR-ruled states are Penang and Selangor. It is understood that PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was also present at the dinner.
Sources familiar with the latest move to bring PAS into the BN government revealed that both Hadi and Nasharuddin would be given prominent roles in Putrajaya if the party decides to abandon PR, but Nik Aziz continues to be the major obstacle in bringing the party
closer to the ruling coalition.
(End)
