‘Who says Islam and democracy can’t propel a nation?’ asks former MCA V-P

(Harakah) – Former MCA vice-president Chua Jui Meng has dismissed the argument that Islam should not have any role in the country’s political system, and cited how Turkey’s blend of Islam and democracy have yielded positive results for the European nation.

“The brave Turkish people went for change with [Turkish prime minister] Tayyip Erdogan in 2003 and today, about 10 years after, Turkey registered a 300% economic growth.

“Turkey even settled its remaining EUR1 billion debt with the International Monetary  Fund last April,” Chua, who is also chairman of Johor PKR, told a ceramah on Saturday.

According to Chua, Islam and democracy could co-exist to help steer a nation towards positive socio-economic progress.

He also rubbished BN leaders’ claims that Pakatan Rakyat’s proposals for free education and other welfare-oriented policies would bankrupt the nation, and again pointed out the reforms impelemented by the Turkish Islamist party.

“Tayyip went on to implement numerous people-centric reforms, including free education for all in his country. Now, this is a country without oil and gas. Did it go bankrupt?” he asked.

“And the Barisan Nasional-UMNO federal government was quick to say Malaysia will go bankrupt under Pakatan Rakyat’s free education policy should it get the mandate from the people to govern.

“It is BN-Umno’s plundering of the nation’s wealth and unabated corruption to enrich Umno cronies and elites that will bankrupt Malaysia,” said the former Health minister.

Chua stressed that PR’s alternative budget which has come under attack in BN-controlled media was aimed not help lift Malaysia’s sagging economic fortunes.