PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is calling on all Malay Muslims to put aside their political differences and unite under the banner of Islam.
He said political disparity had driven the Malays apart and was troubled that certain quarters had politicised Islam.
“I am happy and grateful that we have undergone the 14th General Election,” he said at a buka puasa event with the Muslim Welfare Organisation of Malaysia (Perkim).
Present were the PM’s wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, and Perkim honorary secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Yusof Noor.
“I am happy not just because we (Pakatan Harapan) won.
“I am grateful that the transition of power happened peacefully and in orderly manner.”
Dr Mahathir, who is also Perkim patron, said, not all countries experienced peaceful transitions of power, citing the examples of some nations in the Middle East.
“Alhamdulillah in Malaysia, we have gone through a general election without spilling any blood. This is something we should be thankful for,” the Dr Mahathir said.
“Muslims in Malaysia are well cared for. But, the problem is disunity because of political differences.
“So long as we have such disparities, the Muslims will be disunited,” he said, adding that it should not have happened because the country’s Muslims practised Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (Sunni) teachings.
“I hope I can unite the Muslims in Malaysia who have split because of political differences.
“I am of the opinion that if we return to the true teachings of Islam and hadith, we will able to overcome conflicts.”
The PM reminded Muslims that disunity could destroy the country.
He noted that people of troubled Muslim nations were being forced to seek refuge in non-Muslim countries, adding this should not be so because Islam did not condone discord among the Ummah.--Reports by By Azura Abas, Siti A’isah Sukaimi and Noor Atiqah Sulaiman