KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 — Despite being religion of the federation, there is a prevalent fear within Umno delegates that Islam’s position still lies on shaky grounds.The Malay nationalist party believes that only a federal government under Barisan Nasional (BN) will ensure that Islam-deeply embedded within the country’s Malay majority populace remains an important aspect within the government administration.
Party delegates wasted little time this morning in launching salvos and sounding alarm bells as to what would happen if Pakatan Rakyat were to take over federal power.
They claim that if this scenario were to take place, the importance of the religion and the practice of the faith among Malays would be in jeopardy.
Delegates have insisted that this was “not impossible”, and that events which have unfolded since Election 2008 have proven just that.
“The opposition, what they excel in is bringing up sensitive matters. Take a look with what issues they have championed...pluralism, Seksualiti Merdeka, Kalimah Allah. They will do anything to win votes,” Umno’s Rizalman Mokhtar told delegates here today.
The Wilayah Persekutuan delegate charged that PR supported causes and issues which were unIslamic and went against religious norms.
Seksualiti Merdeka, a movement championing the freedom of sexual orientation and gender identity, has been holding its festival annually since 2008 but sparked heated debate after the authorities banned this year’s celebration.
The issue of the usage of “Allah” among non-Muslims sparked heated debates and controversy last year, resulting in attacks against churches and mosques.
Rizalman said that although Islamist party PAS is part of PR, it was unable to do anything or voice out its concerns.
“DAP has replaced PAS in determining the formation of an Islamic state. Where is it now, what PAS wants?” said the Umno leader sarcastically.
PAS has previously pushed for the concept of an Islamic state, armed with hudud Islamic laws which was consistently opposed by DAP.
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