Abdul Hadi Awang has dismissed a Sabah-based newspaper's action of publishing an image of him in a wedding gown with regard to Umno and PAS' political marriage.

The PAS president said the Overseas Chinese Daily was bankrupt of ideas and the people know that the image was inappropriate for the two Malay-Muslim parties.

“I am not an 'LGBT' member (ahli LGBT), ask those who are (LGBT) members or their advisors. I am not linked to LGBTs...

“This (image) is appropriate for LGBTs and we are not LGBT members, it is not suitable for our party as well as Umno...

“Perhaps, they were desperate and lacked ideas... I don't wish to entertain (this issue) and I have nothing to do with this LGBT. Let the people evaluate (the newspaper's action),” he was quoted as saying by Harakah Online.

Hadi was speaking to reporters after delivering a lecture at Masjid Rusila in Terengganu.

The Chinese newspaper had published an image which depicted Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the groom and Hadi as the bride after both parties formalised their alliance on Sept 14.

The image courted flak from netizens as well as PAS and Umno leaders.

Umno information chief Shamsul Anuar Nasarah demanded that the newspaper apologises for publishing the image, which he claimed violated journalistic ethics.

“Freedom of expression or airing views does not mean we can say and do anything which crosses boundaries, what more if it violates journalistic ethics.

“We want this newspaper to apologise. Why the need to be concerned or threatened by the cooperation between Umno and PAS?” he had said.

The Umno-PAS cooperation had proven successful in three previous by-elections, Cameron Highlands, Semenyih and Rantau.

The parties' influence following the formalisation of their ties is slated to be tested in the upcoming by-election for the Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat in Johor.

The seat fell vacant following the death of Bersatu's Dr Farid Md Rafik.