DAP lawmaker calls on PAS leader to exit public life

DAP representative Aziz Bari has publicly called for PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to withdraw from political life, arguing that the Islamic party chief's statements are unsuitable for a plural nation.

The Tebing Tinggi MP made the remarks during a parliamentary session, asserting that Hadi's recent comments reflect views that conflict with the principles of religious and ethnic harmony that Malaysia's diverse population depends upon.

Aziz Bari's statement represents a continuation of tensions between the DAP and PAS, two parties with fundamentally different ideological positions and constituencies. The DAP, primarily representing the Chinese-majority urban electorate, has long positioned itself as a defender of secular governance and minority rights, while PAS operates as an Islamist political force.

The exchange underscores ongoing political friction within Malaysia's coalition landscape, where parties holding divergent worldviews must nonetheless navigate shared governing responsibilities or opposition roles. Hadi has previously faced criticism from both local and international observers regarding certain public statements, though his supporters maintain that his positions reflect legitimate Islamic perspectives.