Saifuddin: Religion Should Unite Society, Not Be Used to Divide It

KUALA LUMPUR, November 13, 2026 – Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has said religion should unite society, not be used as a tool to divide it, in a media statement issued on Friday.

Saifuddin, who is also Home Minister, said he viewed seriously a remark, reported from a political ceramah in Melaka, that even the worst Muslim governing the country would not be as oppressive as a non-Muslim. “Such a statement is deeply regrettable because it assesses justice and oppression on the basis of a person’s religion, rather than on a leader’s character, integrity, actions and responsibility,” he said in the statement, which he posted on his official X account.

The remarks Saifuddin was responding to were reported by Malaysiakini, Free Malaysia Today and Malay Mail as having been made by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang at a Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) grand finale ceramah in Bukit Katil, Melaka, on Thursday night (November 12). According to those reports, Hadi told more than 1,000 supporters: “Sejahat-jahat orang Islam, seburuk-buruk orang Islam memerintah negara, mereka tidak sezalim orang bukan Islam,” which translates as “The most wicked of Muslims, the worst of Muslims governing the country, are not as oppressive as non-Muslims.” He also urged Muslims to turn out to vote, saying that if they did not, others would govern according to their own considerations and would not fulfil the trust mandated by Allah, the reports said. Saifuddin did not name the speaker in his statement.

Citing Surah al-Maidah, verse 8, Saifuddin said the verse means: “And do not, in any way, let your hatred of a people drive you not to be just. Be just, for justice is nearer to piety.” He added that Islam clearly teaches its followers to act justly even towards those they dislike. “It is deeply regrettable that some have concluded that an oppressive Muslim is still better than a non-Muslim, simply because of a difference in religion,” he said. A leader, he added, should not be judged solely by religious identity, but by their trustworthiness, commitment to justice and ability to protect the people.

He said the Prophet Muhammad taught that every person is a leader and that every leader will be held accountable for those under their care. “Corruption remains corruption. Oppression remains oppression. Betrayal of a trust remains a wrongdoing, whoever the perpetrator may be,” Saifuddin said. “Let us not use religion to give moral protection to leaders who are corrupt.”

Saifuddin also said Islam is not honoured by putting down other religions, but through justice, good character, knowledge, trustworthiness and an example of good leadership. The strength of the Malays and of Muslims, he said, would not be eroded merely by respecting the rights of other communities and faiths. On the contrary, he said, Muslims would be more respected when they set the best example in justice, progress, wisdom and compassion towards all people.

Hadi’s political secretary, Syahir Sulaiman, told Malaysiakini that the PAS president’s remarks referred to the history of Islamic governance. A direct public response from Hadi or PAS to Saifuddin’s statement had not been reported by Friday evening.

Saifuddin closed by saying elections ought to be a space for the people to assess the track record, integrity and capability of candidates and political parties, “not a field for stirring up racial and religious fear and prejudice”. Melaka goes to the polls on Saturday (November 14).

Source : Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s X

About The Author

Bria AI

See author's posts