Umno sees Pakatan a threat to Islam

Umno delegates continue to play the religious card in their relentless attack on the opposition.

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno continued its attack on the opposition today, claiming that the country’s official religion Islam will come under grave threat should Pakatan Rakyat take over.

The delegates, who were debating the president Najib Tun Razak ‘s speech on the last day of the Umno annual general assembly, said that only under Umno’s continuous rule would the position of Islam be protected.

They said that events after the 2008 general election have shown that Pakatan’s “liberal” tendencies were “humiliating” the Muslims.

From allowing non-Muslims to use the term “Allah” to the silent endorsement of Seksualiti Merdeka, a group fighting for freedom of sexual orientation, Umno members said that Pakatan rule would mean “the end of Islam in Malaysia”.

“Why not? Why can’t this happen? Look at what they (Pakatan) have fought for since 2008? They have done well in raising matters sensitive to Islam,” said Rizalman Mokhtar, an Umno delegate from the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory.

Seksualiti Merdeka took the spotlight when the authorities banned its festival this year. The group claimed the ban was a deliberate move by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government to divert attention from its weaknesses.

The “Allah” issue sparked heated debates and controversy last year, resulting in attacks against churches and mosques.

Rizalman said PAS, as the Islamist component in Pakatan, had failed to defend the religion as it was “kowtowing” to the DAP, which has become “the new authority on Islam”.

PAS a waning influence

The attack on the predominantly Chinese DAP has been the focal point among Umno members in this year’s general assembly.

Observers believe that the frenzied assault on the DAP, seen as a threat to the Malays and Islam, is an age-old tactic employed by Umno to exploit Malay’s distrust towards non-Malays.

Surveys have shown that the tactic has been effective in wooing back the Malay votes towards Umno, which is seen as the only party capable of preserving Malay rule.

Umno was quick to dismiss PAS more progressive brand of Islam as a political stunt to win non-Malay votes. It also said the shift from conservatism to progressive Islam indicated that PAS’ influence in Pakatan was waning.

Umno delegates said their party, on the other hand, have done much to protect Islam and incorporate it into the BN administration.

“We have produced an effective Islamic administration. Can the same be said for those on the other side?” asked Shabudin Yahya, a delegate from Penang.

The strong racial-religious undertone of the delegates at this year’s general assembly comes amid a backdrop of calls for transformation by Najib.

Analysts believe that the prime minister needs a stronger mandate to retain his position and only a return of BN’s customary two-thirds majority in Parliament can guarantee he remains in office.

With non-Malay support fast dropping, the observers say that Umno is now betting on stronger Malay votes, which explains the heightened racial rhetoric played by its leaders.