Najib, Soi Lek slammed for belittling Islam for political gain
Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle
Muslim leaders hit out at Prime Minister Najib Razak for belittling his own Islamic faith and joining MCA president Chua Soi Lek in warning non-Muslim Malaysians that they would have to suffer lifestyle changes if Pakatan Rakyat came to power as PAS would insist on forming an Islamic state.
“Shame on Najib for turning his back and ridiculing his own faith. It is utter nonsense. Did the Buddhists, Christians and Hindus have to change their lifestyles in Kelantan? Is Tuan Guru Nik Aziz an extremist compared to Umno-Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali? When PAS led Perak, did I implement extremist policies, rules or practices,” Bukit Gantang MP and former Perak mentri besar Nizar Jamaluddin told Malaysia Chronicle.
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| Nizar |
In comments that reverberated through the Muslim community, Najib had said at the MCA’s 57th annual general assembly on Sunday that Soi Lek was right in warning non-Muslims not to vote for Pakatan because of the Islamic dangers posed by PAS.
“Dr Chua is right to remind you that they (PAS) have not given up on their theocratic Islamic state. And I am sure that if it is implemented, it would change your way of life and affect the Chinese community,” Malaysian Insider reported Najib as saying.
Unity government and hypocrisy
The 57-year Umno president appeared to have forgotten that he and his party had tried all ways and means to form a unity government with PAS after their political power was whittled down by the Pakatan in the 2008 election.
| Dr Siti |
In fact, at that time, Umno drew sharp rebuke from the non-Malays in the country including many MCA members because of concerns that should Umno and PAS merge, their dominance could lead to further sidelining and marginalization of the minority races in the country.
“It shows the hypocrite that Najib and Umno are. When Najib and Umno face a Malay Muslim community, they talk about defending Islam. But when they face a Chinese audience, suddenly they are against an Islamic agenda. Are they Muslims for real?” MP for Kota Raja Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud told Malaysia Chronicle.
“When Najib goes to U.S, he is thick-skinned enough to offer to teach Americans how to overcome Islamophobia. But back home in his own country, where Islam is the official religion, he implies to the non-Muslims that an Islamic state is to be repulsed because it is dangerous and will swamp all other religions? What sort of a man and a Muslim is this? Will the real Najib stand up, please?
Insulting Islam and Kelantan the best example
Other Pakatan Rakyat leaders also lashed out at Soi Lek, the MCA president, for his gross disrespect to the Muslim religion.
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| Kor Ming |
“Nobody can be more extremist than Perkasa and Umno. Not long ago, Umno wanted to get into bed with PAS, why is it suddenly so Islamophobic? Can Najib explain? Why is Perkasa so quiet on this matter, should they not be protesting and insisting that Najib and Soi Lek retract their insults to Islam,” Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming told Malaysia Chronicle.
“Kelantan which is governed by PAS is the best example where all religions can co-exist harmoniously. Kelantan is also the state which houses the largest Buddha statue in Tumpat. Chua Soi Lek is not only arrogant, ignorant and disrespectful of Islam, he shows he is unfit to lead a modern country using modern policies and new politics.”
