Nabil Luqman

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Social

politics

controversy

religion

backlash

heaven

seperate

Malaysian politics is no stranger to chaos, but every once in a while, a political debate takes a very different turn. This time, the controversy has centred on the afterlife, after PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said that those who join PAS, accept Islam and fight for the party&rsquo;s Islamic-based struggle could have a path to heaven.
The remarks, made during a PAS event in Kota Bharu, have since triggered criticism from politicians, religious figures and government representatives, with several arguing that matters involving heaven and hell should not be used as part of political campaigning or linked directly to support for a particular party.
Takiyuddin Says PAS&rsquo; Islamic Struggle Could Lead To Heaven
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/f0d0f79162bd8667c0bc93c37f1fa9ef3e92f3bd2f563f388ee484af63930de4" />
The controversy began with remarks made by Takiyuddin during a ceremony marking PAS&rsquo; 75th anniversary in Kelantan.
Takiyuddin acknowledged that PAS is a political organisation but argued that its struggle is based on Islam and follows teachings commanded by Allah. He said those who died while defending Islam could be regarded as martyrs and receive divine rewards.
Addressing the criticism that &ldquo;joining PAS means entering heaven&rdquo; was simply a slogan used by political opponents, Takiyuddin appeared to embrace the phrase, saying that joining PAS, accepting Islam and fighting along what he described as an Islamic path could, God willing, lead someone to heaven.
He also highlighted PAS&rsquo; growing membership, claiming that the party has more than one million members nationwide, excluding non-members and supporters overseas.
The remarks quickly became a talking point because of the apparent link between political membership and support and a person&rsquo;s possible fate in the afterlife.
Mahfuz Says PAS Is Not A &lsquo;Passport To Heaven&rsquo;
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/334a2fc6d340849ed1375d7f9811fc43fddbbed43ec2125da8b219295a913fb4" />
Among the most vocal critics was Amanah vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar, who sarcastically asked whether PAS had somehow become an &ldquo;immigration counter&rdquo; for the afterlife.
Mahfuz argued that PAS has every right to ask Malaysians to support or vote for the party, but it has never been given any mandate to determine who will enter heaven.
He questioned when a ballot paper became a &ldquo;passport&rdquo; to the afterlife and when a political party was given authority to decide a person&rsquo;s final destination.
Mahfuz also warned that such remarks could create the impression that Muslims who support other political parties are somehow on the wrong path.
He said political parties should not turn heaven into political currency to win elections. Instead, if politics is genuinely meant to reflect Islamic values, parties should demonstrate this through issues such as justice, corruption, poverty, education, public welfare, trust and good governance.
Mujahid Calls The Claim Baseless
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/70c6335627854e3d2e0a631eab0287d4eab0e2b1960ed9bb66b1ceb7a166b676" />
Former religious affairs minister and Amanah deputy president Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa also criticised the statement, describing the idea that joining or supporting PAS could lead someone to heaven as baseless.
Mujahid stressed that entering heaven depends on Allah&rsquo;s mercy rather than support for a particular political party. He also questioned whether linking divine mercy to political support could amount to exploiting religion for political purposes.
The criticism has therefore expanded beyond a simple political disagreement, raising wider questions about how religious values should be incorporated into Malaysian politics.
Religious Affairs Minister Warns Against Mixing Religion And Politics
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/dc6ee91497d057dbdf497175bfe4a48d9aca3135d83823a10da27989886c28e8" />
Minister in the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan also weighed in, stressing that the determination of heaven and hell is the absolute right of Allah SWT.
He said support for any political organisation should not be treated as a measurement of whether someone has attained Allah&rsquo;s pleasure. Instead, faith, piety and righteous deeds should remain the foundations guiding Muslims.
Zulkifli also cautioned against one group portraying itself as unquestionably righteous while suggesting others are excluded from Allah&rsquo;s mercy. He described such an attitude as ghuluw, or religious excess.
He further stressed that political parties are human organisations and should not be equated with religion itself. Parties can be platforms for political action, but they remain subject to human judgement, weaknesses and differences of opinion.
He urged political parties to practise mature and ethical politics centred on justice, the wellbeing of the Muslim community and good character rather than exploiting religious sentiment for political gain.
More Calls For A Healthier Political Debate
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/aa6d2a9b1e633ede844837bbc034b1ed367a23f100732de476dd5d0a3abde54d" />
The criticism has also extended beyond Amanah. Angkatan Muda Keadilan chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim argued that people enter heaven through Allah&rsquo;s mercy, rather than by supporting any political party.
He said Malaysia had experienced similar forms of religiously charged political messaging in previous decades and urged politicians to move towards healthier debates focused on policies, social justice, fighting corruption, preventing leakages and improving governance.
Academic Prof Dr Tajuddin Rasdi also argued that political membership should not be treated as a guarantee of someone&rsquo;s position in the afterlife, stressing that a person&rsquo;s intentions, deeds and ultimate fate cannot simply be determined by political affiliation.
Religion And Political Support Should Stay Separate
Regardless of political affiliation, the controversy serves as a reminder that religious belief and support for a political party are not the same thing.
Political parties can campaign on policies, values and their vision for Malaysia, while voters should be able to judge them based on issues such as the economy, corruption, education, welfare and governance.
Using heaven or hell as a reason to support a political party risks turning deeply personal religious beliefs into a political tool. Political competition can be fierce, but matters of faith should not be reduced to a voting strategy or used to suggest that supporting one party determines a person&rsquo;s ultimate fate.
And this is certainly not the first time PAS has made headlines over an unconventional idea involving Malaysia Airlines.
Read: <a href="https://myc.my/articles/4672/pas-mps-call-for-malaysia-airlines-to-replace-alcohol-with-cendol">PAS MPs Call For Malaysia Airlines To Replace Alcohol With Cendol</a>
In 2025, PAS lawmakers suggested that Malaysia Airlines replace alcoholic beverages with traditional Malaysian drinks such as cendol, sirap bandung and ais batu campur, arguing that local drinks could better showcase Malaysian culture while avoiding alcohol being served on flights.
From heavenly &ldquo;passports&rdquo; to in-flight cendol, Malaysian politics certainly knows how to keep the conversation going.
&nbsp;
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media &amp; various cross-references for context.
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Sometimes, it’s better to keep politics and religion separate.

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PAS Faces Backlash After Leader Says Joining Or Supporting Party Could Lead To Heaven

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BIllie Eilish UMMY

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PAS Faces Backlash After Leader Says Joining Or Supporting Party Could Lead To Heaven

Sometimes, it’s better to keep politics and religion separate.

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