Malay-Muslims will lose political power if they don’t vote, says Hadi

 The PAS president fears Malays will stay away from the Melaka polls while non-Muslims turn out in large numbers.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (front row, seated) at the home of Yasin Sarif, the father of BN’s Sungai Udang candidate, Rais Yasin.

MELAKA:

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has reminded Malay voters in Melaka to take part in the state election tomorrow, warning that division and failure to vote could result in a loss of Malay-Muslim political power.

Hadi expressed concern that Malays would stay away from the polls while non-Muslims would turn out in large numbers.

“When the Malays are divided, political power is lost. That is why unity is so important,” he told reporters at the home of Yasin Sarif, the father of Barisan Nasional’s Sungai Udang candidate, Rais Yasin.

Hadi said the mutual understanding between BN and Perikatan Nasional in Melaka, particularly on seat allocations, had strengthened their cooperation.

He said Umno was contesting more seats because it was strong in the state, while PAS and PN were not overly concerned about how many seats they were contesting.

“We compromise. Melaka is an Umno stronghold, so PAS is not overly eager to contest many seats. We have agreed that when Umno takes power in Melaka, PAS will join the government,” he said.

Hadi said PAS’s priority was to strengthen the position of the Malays before inviting “non-extremist” non-Malay communities, including those represented by MCA and MIC, to work with them.

He also instructed PAS members to vote for the MCA, MIC and Gerakan candidates contesting under the BN-PN pact.

Hadi said racial politics were forbidden and Malay leadership could not be used as an excuse to oppress non-Muslim communities.

He also challenged those who sought to instil fear in non-Malays visiting Kelantan and Terengganu, saying both states were peaceful and non-Muslims there were treated fairly under the PAS administration. - FMT