Jati - Islamic champion or merely an Umno tool?

Kelantan senior exco member Husam Musa has questioned the real motives of the newly-launched NGO, Jalur Tiga (Jati), led by ousted Selangor PAS leader, Hasan Ali.

Husam, (left) who is also a party veep, said that if Jati was really set up to champion Islam, Malays and the royal institution, then it should have joined hands instead of picking fights with PAS.

"Jati is an Umno tool used to attack PAS," he hit out.

He said that a movement formed supposedly to safeguard Islam should be led by an ulama (religious scholar).

"Hasan is not an ulama and he left the ulama (in PAS). In fact, he is going against the ulamas in PAS. This is a clear contradiction," he added in a statement yesterday.

Islam is beyond any race

Husam also questioned why the movement must safeguard Malays, as Islam goes beyond racial lines.

Responding to a statement made by Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria (right) at Jati's launch, Husam said the objective was also unsuitable for a multi-racial country like Malaysia.

"Harussani should be careful and transparent. Islam goes beyond race and is not exclusive to one race. If we want other races to accept Islam then we shuld not limit it only to Malays," he said.

He added that such a statement is evident of Umno's failure to develop the Malay community.

"It is wrong to put a racist Malay agenda above Islam.

"Islam's agenda is justice, unity, equality and welfare beyond race. Umno is merely using Islam as a tool and that is how PAS is different from Umno," he said.