UMNO’S ‘JIHAD’ THREAT CAN LEAD TO BLOODSHED & INNOCENT LIVES LOST – DAP DEMANDS RETRACTION WITHIN 24 HOURS – EVEN AS MUHYIDDIN WARNS AGAINST CREATING ‘BASELESS FEAR’ AMONG MUSLIMS: THE BOTTOM LINE IS – HARSH POLICE MUST BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY OR INDEED VIOLENT CLASHES CAN BE EASILY TRIGGERED BY AGENT PROVOCATEURS

UMNO vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob has 24 hours to retract his statement that PAS and Umno are waging a “jihad” (holy war) to overthrow Pakatan Harapan, said Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng.

Failure to retract will lead to police action against Ismail Sabri, who is also opposition leader, for saying Putrajaya is led by DAP and is an anti-Malay and anti-Islam government, Lim said.

“His statement has hurt the feelings of both members of the civil service and the rakyat, and his only option is to apologise to the nation.

“His jihad provocation could lead to bloodshed and innocent people being sacrificed because of his lie (that) the Pakatan Harapan government is anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

“He has 24 hours to retract his false statement made yesterday in Sabak Bernam, failing which I will demand the police act against his malicious and seditious hate speech,” Lim said in a statement today.

Ismail Sabri made the remarks in Sabak Bernam, Selangor, yesterday, at a joint PAS-Umno gathering that featured the Islamist party president Abdul Hadi Awang as the main speaker.

“No country is governed by the minority. This is why I say our struggle is a jihad. It is a holy war to overthrow an anti-Islamic government.

“When they took control of the government, the Islamic, Malay agenda was set aside because DAP is in charge,” the Umno leader added.

Ismail Sabri’s remarks come as the two former rival Malay-Muslim parties join forces to collaborate in the states that they rule and to forget closer technical cooperation at the grassroots and leadership level.

The remarks also come as the by-election campaign for the Rantau state seat in Negri Sembilan begins, with polling day on April 13.

PH minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman also criticised Ismail Sabri, reminding him that the federal constitution recognised Malaysia as a multiracial country.

“My advice to Ismail is that Malaysia is a multiracial and multi-religious country and we should stick to the principles of the constitution.

“As the new government, we have to care for all the rights and interests of all groups, regardless of race and religion, even those with different political opinions than us, like Ismail,” the youth and sports minister said at a convention in Shah Alam today.  -the malaysian insight

Umno, PAS using race to frighten Malay-Muslims, says Muhyiddin

UMNO and PAS’ use of racial and religious rhetoric is meant to frighten the Malay-Muslims, said Muhyiddin Yassin.

“Create baseless fear among the Malay-Muslims. This is not good for the country,” the home minister told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

The Bersatu president said Pakatan Harapan is a coalition of four parties and decisions are made together.

“All the issues (whether the minister is from DAP or not) are discussed together in the cabinet before a decision,” he said on the Umno-PAS allegation that the government is controlled by DAP.

This is the line that Umno and PAS have decided to take, he said.

“This is part of their thing now. It’s all race and religion to the extent that they create unnecessary concern among people. 

“We emphasise the need for all Malaysians to have trust and respect for one another. Using DAP as a punching bag will not do,” said the Pagoh MP.

Muhyiddin was responding to Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s statements at an Umno-PAS event last night where he described their collaboration as a “jihad” to overthrow an anti-Islam government.  – the malaysian insight

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT