Nasharuddin mocks Ali Rustam’s PAS-Egypt claim

Nasharuddin expressed disappointment over Ali Rustam’s accusation. — file pic

JASIN, Feb 26 — PAS vice president Nasharuddin Mat Isa today labelled the Malacca chief minister as ignorant of the concept of democracy after the latter claimed that a PAS-led Malaysia would share the same fate as Egypt.

Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam yesterday said that PAS’s democracy was destructive and that it would lead to a revolt similar to what was recently seen in the North African country.

Today, Nasharuddin said he was disappointed that a veteran leader like Mohd Ali would make such comments.

“The arrogant statement from a Umno leader shows that he does not understand the meaning of democracy.

“Having become a leader for a long time, he should understand the meaning of democracy and allow any party to participate in the election,” he said.

Outside the nomination centre for the Merlimau state by-election near here today, he also criticised the Umno leader for making what he described as baseless and wild accusations.

“They (Umno) can accuse and attempt to fool the voters in Merlimau but it will not succeed.

“We expect a tough and it will not be easy to win but that does that we cannot give any opposition,” he said.

The Merlimau by-election was called following the death of Mohamad Hidhir on January 20.

The by-election will be a straight fight between PAS’s Yuhaizat Abdullah and Umno’s Roslan Ahmad.

BN currently controls 23 of the state assembly seats, while DAP is the only opposition with five.

The late Datuk Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hasson retained the Merlimau state seat in the last general election after he defeated PAS’s Jasme Tompang by a majority of 2,154 votes. In Election 2004, he won the seat by 5,087 votes.

Merlimau is located within the Jasin parliamentary constituency, a stronghold of Barisan Nasional (BN), which won all the five state seats in Election 2008. - Malaysian Insider