Who says Islam forbids us from asking leaders to go, asks PAS’s Husam

Islam permitted its followers to demand the resignation of a leader, especially if he has committed a criminal offence, former PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa told a forum in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. "If the leader is not wrong, obviously (we) can't ask (him) to resign, but if the leader has committed a great criminal offence which drags down the country's good name as well as the institutions under his leadership and finances, and you say he doesn't need to resign, then show me the Quranic verses that say such things, so that I can read them," he said.  The Salor assemblyman in Kelantan was referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, whom he said faced alleged scandals which have criminal implications. Thus, the people have the right to demand Najib's resignation, Husam said. "In Islam, even an appointed imam who leads 1,000 people in a prayer and (if) suddenly the followers are not satisfied (with the imam) for whatever reason, they have the right to request his dismissal. "And this is the prime minister… it is the rakyat who appointed him, this is a public post and not personal post." Husam's remarks appeared to be directed at PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who recently said asking a leader to go was not encouraged in Islam. Instead, the leader should be "corrected". Hadi also had dismissed the Citizens' Declaration, signed by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with other opposition leaders, which sought to remove Najib as prime minister.  Husam last night questioned those who defended Najib, asking why they did not speak up when past prime ministers were also pressured to resign. "When Pak Lah was asked to resign by Mahathir… everyone said it was permissible, but then when it comes to Najib, no, it's not permissible," he said in reference to the fifth prime minister and Najib's predecessor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.  "This is an acceptable practice in our country's politics (to ask the prime minister to resign), what's so special about Najib that we cannot ask you to step down?" – March 14, 2016.]]>