I have checked the Hansard and Kapar PAS MP Dr. Halimah Ali should apologise for her careless and irresponsible speech in Parliament last Tuesday.

She did not say Menu Rahmah can cause cancer but implied that Menu Rahmah could cause cancer, autoimmune disease, or autism.

This is a most careless and irresponsible way of speaking, whether in Parliament or outside, especially for an MP with her professional background and Halimah must apologise and not continue to speak in such a careless and irresponsible manner if she is to regain her credibility.

But Halimah’s infraction is relatively minor compared to the major lapses of other PAS leaders and MPs, like the PAS Youth gathering which organised “Himpunan Pemuda Islam Terengganu” (Himput) last weekend with PAS members marching in the streets of Terengganu with replicas of medieval weapons and armour in a provocative display of their extreme leanings or the fitnahs of PAS leaders, including the PAS President, Hadi Awang, who had not been able to substantiate his allegation that DAP is promoting Islamophobia after more than 14 weeks.

It would appear that the PAS President is not aware that fitnah is forbidden in Islam for Hadi has gone further to equate corruption with charity.

As Thulsi Manogaran, the DAP Perak State Assemblywoman for Buntong, has pointed out, PAS leaders under Hadi are “void of dignity, principles, and responsibility” — referring to the apology of the Perak PAS leader, Razaman Zakaria to the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for carrying out the LGBT agenda, and the apology of Razman’s son, Rif’aat Razman, who later said his father only apologised to protect the Prime Minister’s good name.

This is not the PAS of Fadzil Noor or Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Will PAS join in the national battle against the divisive and toxic politics of lies, falsehoods, fake news, race, and religion in the era of information and social media?

Will PAS leaders agree that politics should be based on honesty, principles and integrity not on the creation of lies, fake news and disinformation?

This does not seem likely as a PAS leader has described criticism of the provocative martial parade in Terengganu as a form of Islamophobia.

(Media Statement by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang in Penang on Tuesday, 21st February 2023)