Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has urged PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang to drop his 'Dajjal' label in criticising the confidence and supply agreement (CSA), Malay Mail reported on Wednesday (November 4). Dajjal is the Arabic term for a deceiver or false messiah in Islamic tradition.
Her response
Azalina said there was no need to go to such extremes and that there are many other words one can use to express disagreement. A Cinca News headline on the same day described her as saying it was too extreme to call the CSA a false-messiah tactic. The excerpts reviewed do not include Hadi's full remarks or any reply from him.
The wider debate
The CSA was signed on October 29 between the government and 13 opposition and independent MPs, and it has drawn strong reactions from several political parties. Supporters describe it as a way to secure parliamentary stability and equal constituency allocations, while critics have questioned its motives and implications.
Why it matters
Harsh religious language in political debate can heighten tensions, which is why the exchange drew attention. Readers can follow further statements from PAS and the government to see whether the war of words continues.
Sources: Malay Mail - Azalina tells Hadi to drop 'Dajjal' label | Cinca News - Azalina on Hadi's CSA remark
