Only PAS can save Malaysia if Umno falls, says Ridhuan Tee

(MMO) – The fate of Malaysians, especially the Malays, rests solely in the hands of PAS should ruling party Umno fall one day, controversial lecturer Ridhuan Tee Abdullah said today.

The Chinese Muslim convert claimed Islamist party PAS is the only other party that cares about the fate of Malay-Muslims in the country, besides Umno.

“If it is fated that Umno loses power, which other party than PAS can be expected to take care of this fortunate country?

“Do you expect it to be Amanah or PKR? It is clear that they are the ‘kuda tunggangan’ of the ‘ultra kiasu’,” Tee asked in his weekly column in Malay daily Sinar Harian, using the Malay phrase that roughly means a pawn or stooge.

“The ‘ultra kiasu’ are the DAP, MCA, Gerakan, MIC and all those who are against the Islamic agenda,” Tee added, finally explaining the term he has repeatedly used and popularised.

Citing principles held by PAS, Tee stressed for Umno to join forces with the Islamist party to avoid being left alone in the future by the other “ultra kiasu” parties.

“Umno and PAS have to engage in politics maturely. Unite, even if it’s in the open or quietly like the other ‘ultra kiasu’ parties have done.

“Umno will be alone in the future if it’s not with PAS, as in BN only Umno is the party that looks after the importance of Malays and Muslims. All the other parties look out only for their tummies,” he added.

Tee, who quit MCA earlier this year, went on to say that despite not being able to sway urban votes, the so-called Umno-PAS partnership would be able to win the next general elections banking on rural votes.

“I am confident if Umno and PAS employ mature politics, all the rural seats will be theirs. The urban seats as usual will be the ultra kiasu’s. We can still win, what more with the support of the Malay Rulers,” he added.

Last year, Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak said PAS has shown encouraging signs of possible collaboration with Umno, citing some of its recent actions that he interpreted as being supportive of Umno.

The prospect of a PAS-Umno alliance was revived again after PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill seeking to amend the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 was expedited for debate in the Dewan Rakyat in May.