Unity Gov’t: Najib tells PAS it is ‘un-Islamic’ to say NO
In a bid to salvage some pride after the Pakatan Rakyat spurned his offer for a unity government, Prime Minister Najib Razak unabashedly appealed to the Islamist PAS to reconsider on the grounds that it was a religious “obligation”.
“It looks like many Muslims are of the same opinion because unity and efforts to fight for Islam are an obligation,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
“When we follow the obligation, we get blessings for whatever we do. If Islam promotes that, then we should follow its way. Don’t let politics become the obstacle to achieving this.”
But unknown to be particularly holy himself, the 55-year PM may be asking for trouble especially when he did not name or at least giving more specifics about who the “many Muslims” were who shared his disappointment.
In fact, with his latest doublespeak, the scandal-plagued and under-performing leader may have further exposed himself as an unreliable purveyor of the truth and the factual.
“Oh please, Najib should not be the person to talk about religious duty,” PKR MP for Machang Saifuddin Nasution told Suara Keadilan.
“If one really wants to bring out Islam and the majesty and the justice that the religion stands for, why harp on such narrow agenda like unity talks with PAS.
“Why not practise Islam in its full glory by using it to improve the integrity of our judiciary, stopping the abuse of power by the police, the persecution of political foes and minority groups by cruel means and preventing the people in Perak from holding free and fair election?”
Why harp on unity gov’t when Pakatan is ready to discuss key national issues
Najib started the ball rolling last week when he revived interest in forming a unity government with Pakatan partners PKR, DAP and PAS.
All three voted against his offer. PAS was so upset that its spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat rushed to publicly chastise its deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa for not rejecting the PM in strong enough terms.
“The Pakatan stand is very clear. There will be no talks at all as far as unity government is concerned. But as we have stated very clearly, we are open to discussion on national issues, such as, how to improve unity in the country, raise educations standards, revive the economy,” Saifuddin said.
“If Najib is sincere, then he must prove it - not just to us in Pakatan but to the whole country. Let us start with any one of these issues.
“Why keep harping on unity talks with PAS and saying the Malays want it. What Malays is he talking about. Don’t forget PAS is the second largest Malay party and PKR also has large Malay base, but neither of us want anything to do with unity talks with Umno.”
No short cuts especially racist ones
Najib also continued to sideline the non-Malays by saying that they need not worry as they would be protected by the government.
“It does not mean that we would reject non-Muslims because their priorities will always be protected by the government,” Najib said.
But his condescending words gave him away.
At best, they insinuate that the non-Malays would not be included in the talks, not only a tactic that reeks of racism but one that is also bound to worsen the already deepening polarisation in the country.
“In his desperation, because politically, this is a desperate move, he is suggesting that both the Muslims and the Malays are under threat,” said Tian Chua, MP for Batu and PKR strategic affairs director.
“This is not a safe signal coming from a PM. We really wonder what he will do next. Fortunately, Malaysians especially the Malays are more politically savvy that he gives them credit for. They will see this for what it is - typical Umno insecurity and corruption.
“The top leadership is so morally corrupt that whenever there is difficulty, they will resort to trickery and short-cuts like these. But they cannot buy their way out every time. Perhaps it is better they begin to seriously accept reality and start to taste the bitter medicine of reform.”
In a bid to salvage some pride after the Pakatan Rakyat spurned his offer for a unity government, Prime Minister Najib Razak unabashedly appealed to the Islamist PAS to reconsider on the grounds that it was a religious “obligation”.
“It looks like many Muslims are of the same opinion because unity and efforts to fight for Islam are an obligation,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
“When we follow the obligation, we get blessings for whatever we do. If Islam promotes that, then we should follow its way. Don’t let politics become the obstacle to achieving this.”
But unknown to be particularly holy himself, the 55-year PM may be asking for trouble especially when he did not name or at least giving more specifics about who the “many Muslims” were who shared his disappointment.
In fact, with his latest doublespeak, the scandal-plagued and under-performing leader may have further exposed himself as an unreliable purveyor of the truth and the factual.
“Oh please, Najib should not be the person to talk about religious duty,” PKR MP for Machang Saifuddin Nasution told Suara Keadilan.
“If one really wants to bring out Islam and the majesty and the justice that the religion stands for, why harp on such narrow agenda like unity talks with PAS.
“Why not practise Islam in its full glory by using it to improve the integrity of our judiciary, stopping the abuse of power by the police, the persecution of political foes and minority groups by cruel means and preventing the people in Perak from holding free and fair election?”
Why harp on unity gov’t when Pakatan is ready to discuss key national issues
Najib started the ball rolling last week when he revived interest in forming a unity government with Pakatan partners PKR, DAP and PAS.
All three voted against his offer. PAS was so upset that its spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat rushed to publicly chastise its deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa for not rejecting the PM in strong enough terms.
“The Pakatan stand is very clear. There will be no talks at all as far as unity government is concerned. But as we have stated very clearly, we are open to discussion on national issues, such as, how to improve unity in the country, raise educations standards, revive the economy,” Saifuddin said.
“If Najib is sincere, then he must prove it - not just to us in Pakatan but to the whole country. Let us start with any one of these issues.
“Why keep harping on unity talks with PAS and saying the Malays want it. What Malays is he talking about. Don’t forget PAS is the second largest Malay party and PKR also has large Malay base, but neither of us want anything to do with unity talks with Umno.”
No short cuts especially racist ones
Najib also continued to sideline the non-Malays by saying that they need not worry as they would be protected by the government.
“It does not mean that we would reject non-Muslims because their priorities will always be protected by the government,” Najib said.
But his condescending words gave him away.
At best, they insinuate that the non-Malays would not be included in the talks, not only a tactic that reeks of racism but one that is also bound to worsen the already deepening polarisation in the country.
“In his desperation, because politically, this is a desperate move, he is suggesting that both the Muslims and the Malays are under threat,” said Tian Chua, MP for Batu and PKR strategic affairs director.
“This is not a safe signal coming from a PM. We really wonder what he will do next. Fortunately, Malaysians especially the Malays are more politically savvy that he gives them credit for. They will see this for what it is - typical Umno insecurity and corruption.
“The top leadership is so morally corrupt that whenever there is difficulty, they will resort to trickery and short-cuts like these. But they cannot buy their way out every time. Perhaps it is better they begin to seriously accept reality and start to taste the bitter medicine of reform.”
SK
24/06/09
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