Saifuddin: Too late for PM Najib to show leadership against intolerance

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah has criticised Prime Minister Najib for an apparent failure to adopt a strong leadership stance against increasing instances of religious intolerance.

Najib has failed to adopt strong leadership against instances of religious intolerance, says Saifuddin.

“Najib continues to be quiet on this kind of issues,” Saifuddin said in reference to controversies over a beer festival, the refusal of two laundry businesses to entertain non-Muslim customers and a preacher’s insult of non-Muslims.

He said it was too late now for Najib to show leadership in fighting such intolerance because others, including the Malay rulers, had beaten him to it.

Last month, the Better Beer Festival scheduled for Oct 6 and 7 in Kuala Lumpur was disallowed following opposition by PAS and Muslim hardliners. Several quarters criticised the ban, but Najib was quiet about it.

Also last month, two laundry operators, in Muar and Kangar, were criticised by various quarters for enforcing a Muslim-only customer policy. On Sept 27, the Sultan of Johor reprimanded the owner of the Muar laundrette, telling him to do business in Afghanistan if he wanted to continue with such a policy.

Najib issued a statement that same day, saying there was basis in the sultan’s concern that the policy would give a warped image of Islam.

Last Sunday, preacher Zamihan Mat Zin, who happens to be an official of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department, gave a talk at a mosque in which he questioned the hygiene of non-Muslims and apparently criticised the Johor ruler while expressing support for the laundry operators.

Zaid: We need a strong Malay component party with an enlightened view of Islam.

Last Thursday, the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal issued a statement saying the Malay rulers had expressed concern that unity and harmony in the country was eroding following a series of racial and religious controversies.

On the next day, police arrested Zamihan on suspicion of sedition.

Saifuddin told FMT that when he served under Najib as CEO of the Global Movement of Moderates from 2013 to 2015, he heard diplomats accusing the prime minister of doublespeak. This was in reference to his vigorous promotion of moderation when speaking abroad and “elegant silence on this kind of issues at home,” Saifuddin added.

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, now a DAP member, said the only way to improve the situation would be to elect a new government that is assured of support from all races and is led by a strong Malay component party with an enlightened view of Islam.

“Najib and Barisan Nasional have none of those attributes,” he alleged. -FMT