Umno has betrayed you, Hadi tells Malays

Hadi took aim at Dr Mahathir’s claim that Malays risked losing power by backing Pakatan Rakyat. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang accused Umno today of betraying the Malay community as both continue to battle for the hearts and minds of the country’s dominant majority.

Dismissing Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s contention that the community would lose power if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) takes over the government, Hadi pointed out that the Umno-led federal government had discriminated against Malay-majority states under PAS administration.

“We will not forget the political discrimination to divide and rule by Umno, which controls the federal government, against the Malay-Muslims in Terengganu, Kelantan and Kedah in the issue of fertiliser subsidies, and denying the Terengganu and Kelantan governments of their oil royalty,” said Hadi in a statement today.

Last Tuesday, Dr Mahathir claimed that the political marginalisation of the Malays had already become a reality in PR-controlled states even though those administrations were led by Malays.

The former Umno president, who still commands widespread influence among party members and the larger Malay community, pointed to the former PR mentri besar in Perak Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin as an example of how Malay politicians had been sidelined by PR.

He also implied that a Chinese or an Indian could become prime minister if PR took federal power because there was no constitutional restriction on race for the position.

Yesterday, at a Perkasa gathering in Kelantan, Dr Mahathir accused the Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat of compromising Islam for political interest.

Hadi, however, said it was Umno — which was led by Dr Mahathir for 22 years — who had compromised Islam for political expediency.

“Umno has failed to fulfil its responsibility. As a result, the Malays that obtained a large majority in election failed recognise the role of Islam as the religion of the federation,” said the Marang MP.

“Umno and BN (Barisan Nasional) leaders have behaved in a manner that has tarnished the image of Islam with injustices in society, abuse of power and corruption,” he added.

Hadi then said Dr Mahathir’s remarks suggested that the Malay party was desperate to stay in power.

“Everything is repeated at the time when Umno is at its weakest. History shows that Umno is a colonial heritage that carries out their agenda and ideology that weaken the Muslims,” said Hadi.

courtesy of Malaysian Insider