THERE is nothing wrong with PAS using its old-fashioned narrative in arguing that only Muslims can govern Malaysia, the Islamist party’s leaders said.

They said in reality, the majority should run the country and for the sake of stability Malay Muslims must lead the government, as proven by Umno for the past 60 years.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad both slammed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for stirring up the issue of Malay Muslims holding the country’s top posts.

Yesterday, Anwar said PAS should leave its old narrative behind and that the unity government he heads looks after all Malaysians and does not neglect the Malays. 

He dismissed PAS’ claim that Pakatan Harapan (PH) is unfit to govern the country as the coalition comprises non-Muslim parties. 

Anwar said PAS should look at the policies his government is executing. 

Tuan Ibrahim said Umno has shown clear proof that it managed to create stability by leading the country with the cooperation of the Chinese leaders in MCA and Indians from MIC.

“The majority has to lead for the sake of unity and stability. For more than 60 years Umno has done that.

“Anwar has to refer to the hadith where the Prophet said the majority (the Quraisy) at that time must lead the Arabs for stability.

“Look at America – the majority leads, not the minority,” he said.

The Kubang Kerian MP, however, said the majority must never discriminate against the minority and be fair to all.

“When the majority leads, they must not oppress the minority. They must respect the rights of the minority and by doing so, there will be no issue of discrimination.

“The prime minister is wrong. We stay strong when the majority is the main pillar in the government,” he added.

On Friday, Anwar reminded the opposition that Malaysia is a multiracial country that safeguards Islamic rights.

“This is the guarantee of our country’s peace. I don’t like people to be misled by this sentiment,” he said.

He was responding to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s comment on the same day that PH is unfit to lead the country as the coalition is dominated by non-Muslim parties.

Hadi said the government is weak because it is not led by a Malay-Muslim party.

“PH is hopeless because its position is very weak.

“DAP won 40 seats, PKR won 31 seats. Eleven (of the winners) were non-Malays, so it is actually dominated by non-Muslims.

“It’s a pact that doesn’t suit the majority of the Malaysian community, which are the Malay-Muslims,” he said.

Meanwhile, Idris Ahmad took Anwar to task by asking the Tambun MP if it is wrong to talk about Islam and the Malays.

The former religious affairs minister used Kelantan as an example where no one was treated badly by the Islamist government.

“Take Kelantan. Not one Chinese was driven out of the state in the 30 years of PAS governing the state. What is wrong with wanting a Malay Muslim government?

“Is that called racist?” the Bagan Serai lawmaker asked in a thinly veiled dig against Anwar. – June 4, 2023.