UMNO has never labelled itself a Malay-Islamic government and Barisan Nasional had always had a multicultural policy, said Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

The Umno veteran said the party had never leaned towards any religious denomination or ideological policies.

“There is no such thing. We don’t believe in that (Malay-Islamic government) because we have a mixed society.

“I don’t believe in that. All this labelling is not right,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Tengku Razaleigh was commenting on Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s speech at the annual general assembly, where he vowed to amend the federal constitution to strengthen shariah law should Umno win a two-thirds majority in the general election.

Zahid said it was necessary to do this after recent court decisions, which could diminish the power of the shariah system in matters of religion.

Tengku Razaleigh, or popularly known as Ku Li, said shariah was never Umno’s policy.  

“Even PAS never said that. They want an Islamic state and to implement shariah laws where it is applicable,” said the Umno disciplinary board chairman.

“We do not promote that (shariah). However, we are not blind to our Islamic obligations.”

Ku Li added Malaysians are more united than before as the feeling of oneness is there.

“If politicians keep quiet and not talk too much about Bumiputera, ethnicity, cultural backgrounds, it will be better for society and our nation to develop.

“The young (generation) are not conscious about all these. They want to move forward,” the Gua Musang MP added. – April 10, 2021.