KUALA LUMPUR, May 9: PAS leaders have come together to slam right-wing group Perkasa’s mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia in its latest claim against DAP of a ‘Christian conspiracy’ to make Islam the religion of the Federation.
PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang condemned the paper for being irresponsible in playing up communal issues to fan sentiments especially among the Malays Muslims.
Hadi reiterated that PAS, PKR and DAP have long agreed to defend the Federal constitution, among which makes Islam the official religion while ensuring freedom for other religions to be practised.
“This commitment is enshrined in Pakatan Rakyat’s common policy. Hence, the ploy played by certain media aiming to rouse the people’s sentiments especially among Malays Muslims that Malaysia would become a Christian state smacks of irresponsbile reporting,” Hadi told Harakahdaily.
Earlier, the UMNO-owned Utusan Malaysia’s headline on Saturday screamed “Christianity as Official Religion?”, basing its report on pro-UMNO bloggers. Referring to a meeting between various religious leaders with DAP at a hotel in Penang, the paper accused the party everything from wanting to make Christianity the official religion to ensuring the next prime minister would be from the Christian faith.
The paper said as such, the position of Islam in the country was being undermined.
However, Hadi said it was UMNO leaders who caused the religion to be weak and even its position being doubted.
“UMNO not only fails to strengthen Islam’s status as the religion of the federation but also failed to educate people on the real meaning of Islam. It has weakened Malay Muslims and left them confused and embroiled in social ills,” he added.
Vice president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man rubbished the report as baseless and dismissed the allegations.
“With all of DAP’s might, it cannot do what it is being accused of … even if it is under Pakatan Rakyat’s name.
“DAP will not propose such an illogical plan,” he said, urging authorities to act against those behind the allegation.
“Pakatan Rakyat at its earliest stages has openly declared that we will uphold the federal constitution, especially Islam as the official religion of this country,” he explained, adding that the allegation could not hold water not only due to its “baseless” claim but also judging by parliamentary realities.
Inaction on paper
Tuan Ibrahim said publication of such reports would have immediately brought an end to a newspaper.
“Just imagine if Harakah or Rocket does that, they will be punished and have their permits revoked. Such a double standard is why the media owned by the ruling party are getting more uncouth and daring to do a variety of things from broadcasing pornographic clips to publishing racist articles,” he said.
PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi meanwhile warned that Utusan’s could tense relationship between followers of different religions in the country.
He echoed other PAS leaders, saying that had UMNO been successful in abiding by Islamic tenets, such a speculation would not have been thought of.
“At the same time, other religions beside Islam will be at peace and be comfortable to practise their respective religions,” he said, adding that the latest issue only revealed UMNO was incapable of ensuring the country’s stability.
I am afraid PAS respond is no where near enough to counter what the ultras of UMNO is doing. Najib meek respond harks back to Tunku Abdul Rahman failure to reign in the ultras in the late 1960s.
Like it or not, negative politicking works. Its takes advantage of the apathy and inaction while galavanising the most extreme.
The person that need to rise to the occasion is Anwar and he is not doing it. Anwar need to put himself in the same shoes as Tunku Abdul Rahman who was similarly attacked for being unIslamic, working or under the control of MCA etc. He need to remind the Malays that Mahathir was Tunku’s nemesis and did all the wrongs that Tunku kicked him out of UMNO for. Anwar need to stand up and says he will not let Tunku legacy be won over by Mahathir, he must associate his cause with that of Tunku and reclaim real Malay pride. Anwar need to equate Najib’s inaction equal to Tunku’s own insufficient action against the ultras and Tunku did more back then – at least he kicked out Mahathir.
Anwar then need to say UMNO/BN is trying to fool the Malays again and for what? Because they will remove subsidies and raise taxes so they can spend more and steal more from the state. If they think chicken prices is too high, wait until UMNO/BN win the next GE.
This is not irresponsbile reporting. It is an umno plot to launch Ops ladang 2, whereby the dap “communists” and christian “anarchists” would be detained indefinitely, thereby decapitating the opposition just as the 13 GE approaches. Then only can a thousand year umno Reich be achieved.
All the readers of Utusan malaysia in Pakatan ruled states should stop buying this paper, as a first step to boycott. Maybe the paper will go Free, just like The Sun, in 7-11 stores. UMNO can afford to pay its cost.
Next they will publish priests,monks would be made the deputies and ministers.Altar boys and temple’s helpers will be given the task executioner.
That’s the intention of utusan…to cause unrest so that there’s an excuse to impose emergency law in the country…don’t need election lor.. can stay in power forever and forever.
Christian cannot even hv their bible in bahasa indonesia for so long (stuck at custom), then hv to get stamped n serial nos, so how can Christian threatened others???
If a party/person want to be a fool, go ahead, Don’t try to fool 25 million Malaysian !
Christian cannot even build a church with their money without a long, long wait for approval (as long as 17 years, or even never approved), so how can they threatened others, so real brainless report !