Umno, PAS using race to frighten Malay-Muslims, says Muhyiddin, while Loke steers clear of Umno-PAS bait and emphasises on policy and moderation.
- Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng demands Ismail retracts his false statement
- Ismail calls for jihad to overthrow “anti-Islamic government”
- Baseless claim that DAP in charge in new government, party accused of setting aside Malay and Islamic agenda
- Anthony Loke says party that resorts to extremism will not be supported by the people
- Muhyiddin says Umno and PAS’ use racial and religious rhetoric to frighten Malay-Muslims, using DAP as punching bag “will not do”
Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob has 24 hours to retract his statement that PAS and Umno are waging a “jihad” (holy war) to overthrow Pakatan Harapan, said Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng.
Failure to retract will lead to police action against Ismail Sabri, who is also opposition leader, for saying Putrajaya is led by DAP and is an anti-Malay and anti-Islam government, Lim said.
“His statement has hurt the feelings of both members of the civil service and the rakyat, and his only option is to apologise to the nation.
“His jihad provocation could lead to bloodshed and innocent people being sacrificed because of his lie (that) the Pakatan Harapan government is anti-Malay and anti-Islam.
“He has 24 hours to retract his false statement made yesterday in Sabak Bernam, failing which I will demand the police act against his malicious and seditious hate speech,” Lim said in a statement today.
Ismail made the remarks in Sabak Bernam, Selangor, yesterday, at a joint PAS-Umno gathering that featured the Islamist party president Abdul Hadi Awang as the main speaker.
“No country is governed by the minority. This is why I say our struggle is a jihad. It is a holy war to overthrow an anti-Islamic government.
“When they took control of the government, the Islamic, Malay agenda was set aside because DAP is in charge,” the Umno leader added.
Sabri later clarified that he what he meant was a “struggle”.
Ismail’s remarks come as the two former rival Malay-Muslim parties join forces to collaborate in the states that they rule and to forget closer technical cooperation at the grassroots and leadership level.
The remarks also come as the by-election campaign for the Rantau state seat in Negri Sembilan begins, with polling day on April 13.
DAP parliamentary leader Anthony Loke said the government should not get caught up in the Umno-PAS narrative, stressing that it should instead focus on policy and moderation.
“We do not need to continue the polemics like them as this is their normal practice. most importantly is that our policies can help all people. We will defend multiracialism.
“We do not need to resort to this approach in order to compete with them. Most importantly, we should take care of people’s lives and continue our moderate approach.
“In a multiracial country like Malaysia, we cannot resort to extremism. the party that resorts to extremism will not be supported by the people,” the transport minister told journalists at the Parliament lobby today.
Loke, who is also DAP national organising secretary, said he was confident Pakatan Harapan can win support, despite the Umno-PAS alliance, if it can deliver.
“What is important is for us to improve the economy and reduce the cost of living, that is our primary agenda.
“If we can solve these issues and help the people, we are confident that we can win their support regardless of the opposition’s political manoeuvring.”
Meanwhile, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said Umno and PAS’ use of racial and religious rhetoric is meant to frighten the Malay-Muslims,
“Create baseless fear among the Malay-Muslims. This is not good for the country,” the home minister told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
“This is part of their thing now. It’s all race and religion to the extent that they create unnecessary concern among people.
“We emphasise the need for all Malaysians to have trust and respect for one another. Using DAP as a punching bag will not do,” said the Pagoh MP.