Will PAS rank-and-file endorse the Hadi mainstream PAS leadership position to help Najib overcome the national and global kleptocratic storm arising from the international multibillion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal so that Najib could continue as PM after 14GE?

This is my third stop after Kuantan and Kemamam in my three-day “Jelajah Raya di Pantai Timur” to Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.

One objective of the Jelajah Raya is to underline the importance of unity, understanding, tolerance, goodwill and solidarity of the Malaysian population, regardless of race, religion and region, which is one of the ingredients of the formula to guarantee Malaysia’s success as a nation.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a national holiday and should be celebrated not only by all Muslims but also by non-Muslims in Malaysia to develop a Malaysian culture where the major religious and cultural festivals in Malaysia are also celebrated by all Malaysians, to transform our diversities of race, religion, culture and customs into an asset and strength in welding our diverse people into one national entity, instead of being a liability and weakness which breed suspicion, mistrust and hatred leading to grave problems of racial and religious polarisation.

Malaysia as an “instant Asia” should not just be a tourism slogan, but be the Malaysian creed and motto – which makes Malaysia different and better than all other nations.

Another objective of the tour is to exchange views on the latest political developments in Malaysia.

On the eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, PAS President Datuk Seri Hadi Awang issued a most extraordinary Open Letter to all Political Parties, as good as asking all Opposition parties in the country to cease and desist from attacking the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak by making use of the three series of US Department of Justice (DOJ) kleptocratic suits to forfeit 1MDB-linked assets in the United States, United Kingdom and Switzerland misappropriated and money-laundered from 1MDD funds.

These are two quantum leaps in the latest political development of Hadi as a great supporter and ally of Najib, especially over the 1MDB kleptocratic scandal – as he graduates from an individual support of Najib’s kleptocracy into firstly, the support of the mainstream PAS leadership for Najib; and secondly, his Open Letter to all Political Parties to pipe down and not to use the DOJ suits to question the credibility and integrity of the Prime Minister.

At first, I had wondered whether Hadi’s Open Letter to all Political Parties was Hadi’s personal view, that of the mainstream PAS leadership or the PAS general leadership.

However, from the reaction of the Secretary of Dewan Ulama and a hardcore member of Hadi’s mainstream PAS leadership to the invitation by Pakatan Harapan to a protest campaign culminating in an anti-kleptocracy rally in September against Najib’s 1MDB and DOJ scandals, I am now convinced that Hadi’s Open Letter does not merely represent his own personal views, but also that of the Hadi mainstream leadership in PAS as well.

The PAS leader, who is also MP for Kuala Nerus, Khairuddin Aman Razali early today rejected offhand the invitation by a meeting of Pakatan Harapan leaders in Parliament House this morning for an anti-kleptocracy campaign to ensure that those accused of misappropriation of 1MDB funds are brought to justice.

The question is whether the PAS rank-and-file will endorse the Hadi mainstream PAS leadership position to help Najib overcome the national and global kleptocratic storm arising from the international multibillion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal so that Najib could continue as Prime Minister after the 14th General Election?

I have my grave doubts, for I believe that even the UMNO rank-and-file, representing some 3.5 million UMNO members, also cannot accept Malaysia being regarded worldwide as a global kleptocracy. Worse still, if the 1MDB scandal could be explained in simple terms, without the banking and financial complexities and jargon.

This is the time in fact for all Malaysians, regardless of whether they are UMNO or PAS members, whether they support Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan, to take a common national stand to save Malaysia as a democracy and oppose Malaysia from becoming a kleptocracy.