PAS will shield all from race clash, veep vows
Debra Chong, TMI
PAS will protect all Malaysians from any racial confrontation that may happen after the May 5 polls, Datuk Mahfuz Omar pledged even as he lashed out at its instigator, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The vice-president of the Islamist opposition party accused Dr Mahathir of being an author of racial strife bent on selling the politics of fear through the former prime minister’s blog.
“It’s no secret that Dr Mahathir is very afraid to face the general election this time, in fact he has been reported saying he was more worried about his grandchildren’s safety compared to his own if Pakatan Rakyat wins,” Mahfuz was quoted saying today by PAS news portal, Harakah.
“His writing clearly is a desperate attempt by Dr Mahathir to spread his fear to the rakyat and an invitation to share in his personal fears,” he added, referring to the veteran Umno politician’s latest blog posting two days ago, titled “Gelang Patah”.
In it, Dr Mahathir warned Malaysians that a “racial confrontation” was imminent if the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang were to win the Gelang Patah federal seat in Johor, the birthplace of Umno at the 13th general election.
Seemingly rushing to defend Lim, his political ally in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact, Mahfuz was reported holding up Dr Mahathir’s statement as further evidence that the ex-prime minister was fearful to face the people’s anger towards Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition it fronts in the May 5 polls.
He said PAS had not only worked to prevent racial strife, which he claimed to be stoked by Umno via Dr Mahathir’s blog entry, but was committed to ensure the safety of all races.
“But we give our commitment to protect and care for the safety of all Malaysians, regardless if Malay, Chinese or Indians if a racial confrontation happens as Dr Mahathir aspires in his blog,” the Johor PAS chief was quoted saying.
