Dr M's 'non-Malay PM' warning: Nizar slams, Izzah dares

Harakahdaily

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24: Ousted Perak Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin has lashed out at Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s latest attack on PAS, in which the former prime minister claimed the party had used Islam and hit out at Nizar who used Islam to get Malay support during the latter's tenure as Menteri Besar. L/R: Nizar Jamaluddin and Dr Mahathir Mohamad Mahathir also said "Malays will lose power and voice if PR rules". In response, Nizar described Mahathir as a "pure racist", adding that it would be UMNO who loses power and not Malays. “UMNO will surely lose their power and voice if PR is to rule the states and federal [government]," said Nizar, adding that by suggesting that "Malays will lose power and voice", Mahathir had made a "racist and seditious” statement. Earlier, Mahathir cited Nizar as an example to prove his point about Pakatan Rakyat, saying Nizar was under the instruction of DAP. “The Chinese claimed this (defection from PR) was BN’s move to bring down a Chinese government (in Perak). So they called it a Chinese administration and is it not possible that we can have a prime minister like Nizar, Malay in name and a Muslim but not really independent and a tool for others?” he was quoted as saying. According to Mahathir, a staunch supporter for right-wing UMNO offshoot Perkasa, there was no constitutional restriction for a non-Malay to be appointed as the prime minister, and this could happen if Pakatan Rakyat took over the Federal government. "As an Islamic political party, PAS acts Islamically to wrest power from racists UMNO to save Malaysia," rebuked Nizar in a Twitter post. Izzah wants to debate with Dr M Meanwhile, Lembah Pantai member of parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar (right), fresh from being called by the police over a police report made against her by Perkasa, has now issued a dare on Mahathir. “I humbly offer to debate with Tun Dr Mahathir to clarify his ‘fear’ regarding the Malays – is it really about loss of power or in reality loss of wealth for the chosen few,” she said in a statement. Describing Mahathir’s remark as irresponsible and a desperate move to destabilise the nation, Izzah said such ‘politics of fear’ was the only approach UMNO and its present leaders were capable of in their attempt to regain the people's suppport. “The ‘politics of fear’ uses Article 153 as a political instrument of deceit and despair. The Malays are indoctrinated through all means available including using NGOs to continue to ‘act’ out a victim mentality ... confuses and paralyses a community to remain enslaved intellectually and emotionally first by the colonial masters and now by its new reincarnation, UMNO,” retorted Izzah, whose recent call for debate with Perkasa over Article 153 of the constitution was rejected by its chief Ibrahim Ali.