KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Malaysia concept which seeks to eliminate the Malays and Bumiputera rights is wrong and goes against the country’s spirit.
Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said Islam accepts all races, language and culture.
Thus, he said, anyone describing the existence of the Malay and Bumiputera rights as racist and harmful to other races was wrong.
“Islam also stressed that there is no coercion in practising other religions and the rights of followers of other religions are guaranteed.
“So the theory of Malaysian Malaysia with the excuse that (the Bumiputera rights) is cruel to others is wrong,” he said.
Hadi said this in his speech at the Muslim Unity Gathering (Himpunan Penyatuan Ummah) held at the Putra World Trade Centre here today.
The Marang Member of Parliament is expected to sign the Umno-Pas Charter referred to as the National Consensus Charter, with Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, marking the collaboration between the two largest Malay-based parties in the country.
The cooperation between Umno and Pas has been highly criticised by Pakatan Harapan leaders along with several other political observers, alleging that is is a racially segmented union which would not benefit Malaysia’s multiracial society.
Hadi, however, described detractors as “pests” who had been going around attempting to destroy the union without fully understanding the content of the charter.
“These people are also responsible for destroying the concept of the dominant race being the leader together with Islam.
“All Malaysians must reject these pests in the next general election.
“What’s worrying is that there are political parties and individuals who are trying to challenge the position of Islam, the Malays and Bumiputera rights as well as the position of the Malay Rulers.
“This will trigger tension that could damage the good relations we’ve all had all this while,” he said.
In March, then acting party president, Datuk Mohamad Hasan confirmed that both Umno and Pas were in talks for political cooperation, contradicting weeks of denials that such an alliance would be formed.
Zahid had said that the union between both the parties would ensure that Umno and Pas, together with other Barisan Nasional (BN) members, will wrest Putrajaya and the states from Pakatan Harapan in the 15th General Election.
In a joint statement released July 25, Umno and Pas secretaries-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa and Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan had said that both parties reached a consensus for 'ta’awun' (cooperation for the benefit of Islam), to face political challenges in the country.
Umno and Pas had previously been political nemesis for some six decades before their bitter relations took a turn in the aftermath of the 14th General Election last year.
That was when Umno and BN ended up in the opposition aisle with Pas in Parliament.
Umno and BN have 40 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat, while Pas has 18.