DUNGUN, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysians will not fare any better if the Opposition takes over the federal government from the Barisan Nasional (BN),said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
According to him, most of the leaders from the Opposition were seen to be willing to change their stand just to gain popularity and support from the people.
Some of them, he said, were willing to declare as "halal" (permissible in Islam) what they used to say were "haram" (forbidden in Islam) simply to please former enemies who now had become partners in the Opposition's Pakatan coalition.
"I think things will only get worse (if the Opposition comes into power at the federal level). Their leaders are willing to make "halal" everything. Previously, PAS (one of the Opposition's coalition members) had said cooperation with non-Muslims would make one an infidel but now not only are they cooperating with non-Muslims, they are also saying it is okay to rear pigs, only that Muslims should not consume pork.
"PAS quotes the Quran that pork is "haram" but that it did not say pigs cannot be reared. Going by this, it means we (Muslims) can rear pigs, can sell pork but not eat it. Just because they want the cooperation of some people, they are willing to compromise on their principles," he told reporters here on Monday.
The other parties in the Opposition Pakatan coalition are the Chinese dominated DAP and multiracial Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Earlier, he had delivered a lecture entitled "Dari Minda Tun, Ketuanan Melayu" (From Tun's Mind, Malay Supremacy) at Dewan Aspirasi Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Terengganu here.
Also present was UiTM vice chancellor, Tan Sri Prof Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah.
Mahathir further explained that Malaysia could ill-afford leaders who were inconsistent in their stand just for the sake of gaining popularity.
"It is just the same with another leader who is a now a strong supporter of Hindraf (the banned Hindu Rights Action Force movement)," he said without naming who he was referring to.
Commenting on the future of Umno, the backbone of the BN, he said the party was still relevant but its leaders and members must be wise and brave in taking "corrective measures".
"If a leader does something that is not good, they must voice out...I laud the appointment of Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. There should be more appointments from outside the party in government leadership positions," he said.
In his speech, Mahathir urged bumiputera students to be brave in competing with other races, including in pursuing higher education in private tertiary institutions that were not dominated by bumiputeras like UiTM.
They should prove their ability to compete by enrolling in institutions like Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman, he added.
According to him, most of the leaders from the Opposition were seen to be willing to change their stand just to gain popularity and support from the people.
Some of them, he said, were willing to declare as "halal" (permissible in Islam) what they used to say were "haram" (forbidden in Islam) simply to please former enemies who now had become partners in the Opposition's Pakatan coalition.
"I think things will only get worse (if the Opposition comes into power at the federal level). Their leaders are willing to make "halal" everything. Previously, PAS (one of the Opposition's coalition members) had said cooperation with non-Muslims would make one an infidel but now not only are they cooperating with non-Muslims, they are also saying it is okay to rear pigs, only that Muslims should not consume pork.
"PAS quotes the Quran that pork is "haram" but that it did not say pigs cannot be reared. Going by this, it means we (Muslims) can rear pigs, can sell pork but not eat it. Just because they want the cooperation of some people, they are willing to compromise on their principles," he told reporters here on Monday.
The other parties in the Opposition Pakatan coalition are the Chinese dominated DAP and multiracial Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Earlier, he had delivered a lecture entitled "Dari Minda Tun, Ketuanan Melayu" (From Tun's Mind, Malay Supremacy) at Dewan Aspirasi Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Terengganu here.
Also present was UiTM vice chancellor, Tan Sri Prof Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah.
Mahathir further explained that Malaysia could ill-afford leaders who were inconsistent in their stand just for the sake of gaining popularity.
"It is just the same with another leader who is a now a strong supporter of Hindraf (the banned Hindu Rights Action Force movement)," he said without naming who he was referring to.
Commenting on the future of Umno, the backbone of the BN, he said the party was still relevant but its leaders and members must be wise and brave in taking "corrective measures".
"If a leader does something that is not good, they must voice out...I laud the appointment of Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. There should be more appointments from outside the party in government leadership positions," he said.
In his speech, Mahathir urged bumiputera students to be brave in competing with other races, including in pursuing higher education in private tertiary institutions that were not dominated by bumiputeras like UiTM.
They should prove their ability to compete by enrolling in institutions like Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman, he added.
1 comment:
But it will only fare worse under BN!
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