‘Malays less sensitive on corruption than Chinese’

The Chinese are more concerned about corrupt practices of the nation’s leaders, says PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu.

VIDEO INSIDE - FMT

PETALING JAYA: PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said many Malays do not seem to know that it is part of the Islamic teachings to have zero-tolerance for corruption.

Instead, the Chinese seem to be more sensitive and concerned about corrupt practices of the nation’s leaders.

“The second Qaliph Umar Al Khattab had a large country under his rule and when he often wore new shirts, the people would ask where he got his money from to buy them.

“That is what Islam asks of you, to be critical and check your leaders,” said Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, during a live interview on FMT RAW yesterday.

“But now when we mention to the Malays that Rosmah (Mansor) has a ring costing RM24 million, they are not stunned. But the Chinese are. In that sense the Chinese seem to be practising Islamic culture more than the Malays,” he said.

Mohamad said Malays need to change their mindsets.

“Even when I tell them RM28 billion was lost due to corruption in Malaysia, they don’t care or can’t comprehend but the Chinese, as taxpayers, get angry,” he said.

Mohamad also said that Umno would totally “collapse” when it comes to the urban and semi-urban seats but Pakatan Rakyat still had a long way to go with rural voters.

He touched on how the Umno-controlled mainstream media as well as the National Civics Buerau (Biro Tata Negara) have a hold on the minds of many Malays, and Pakatan needs to find a way to break that strangehold.

On the incident where he was allegedly rammed into by a police vehicle when he was on his way to take part in July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally, he said he was disappointed by accusations that he dramatised the whole episode.

“That’s very low politics. We don’t play with health. When Najib (Tun Razak) was sick, we prayed for him, when the Inspector-General of Police had a heart treatment, we prayed. Even with Ibrahim Ali, (although) I don’t like him… I called him and wished him a speedy recovery,” he said.



The incident caused a torn ligament on Mat Sabu’s right knee, and as a result he had to undergo an operation at a hospital to insert a metal screw in his knee.

Excerpt of the interview follows:

On his No 2 post in PAS
I admit I have not been able to perform much of my party duties lately. Most of the time spent recently on Bersih and recovering in the hospital. However, we will be launching a big programme after Ramadan. We will go on campaigns nationwide.

On the impending general election:
We have to work hard on dismantling Umno’s hold on the rural folk and Felda. Because they have access to the mainstream media, they promote Umno’s ideology. Umno will lose the urban seats, but rural seats… we need to find a way to break through to them. Umno creates a perception that they are the guardians of Malay rights. And it’s very hard to change this because we have no access to people in rural areas.


On the Biro Tata Negara:
They send government officers for so many training courses. They tell you, you live and have a good status in Malaysia because of Umno. We need to debunk this thinking. It’s a little bit different in Kelantan, but not in Johor, Negri Sembilan and many of the Malay rural areas… they (rural folk) still believe they need protection from Umno.

On Bersih 2.0:
NGOs have activists but not many followers, and that’s why political parties are needed to give them a boost. PAS supported it (Bersih 2.0 rally) 100%; we mobilised all our people and our spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat even said it was compulsory for all members to attend. That’s why we were successful. Our members are still waiting for Bersih 3.0 if the Election Commission is not going to act on the eight points raised by Bersih.

On PAS’ new ‘moderate’ image:
The image for me is secondary; what’s important is the substance – what we are fighting for. In Malaysia, problems of nepotism and corruption are high. Of course, this is also an Islamic issue. We want to abolish or reduce corruption, so we have to fight together with all the races and all NGOs, DAP, PKR, are all very interested in this issue. We’re not just being ‘moderate’ but we are doing things in accordance with Islam too.
On PAS’ and his plans for the general election:

We are discussing the numbers (of seats) from time to time. Now they are asking, who is the leader, what is happening to the Malays and Muslims? If we contest more seats, at least we can win the Malays back from Umno. Will I contest?… I hope so, if given a chance. I can contest in a majority non-Malay area, either in Penang or Selangor, not a problem.

On the July 9 accident:
I have proof. I was on the way to Masjid Negara riding pillion on a motorcycle. A Pajero tried to cut into our path but the rider of the bike made a U-turn; at that time a Proton Waja knocked into my right leg on the knee. Several men came and one of them said, ‘cuff him’. I said ‘no need, I cannot even walk’. They then pushed me into the Pajero and sent me to the Jinjang lock-up. It was a painful experience… Later when I went for an operation, doctors put a 2.5 metal screw into my knee. I suffered for more than two weeks confined in a wheelchair. Now I’m on crutches. I have witnesses. I don’t know why the police… tried to bluff by saying that I was knocked by a Pajero when it was a Waja. Our lawyer sent a letter three days demanding an apology within 24 hours from the police, but till now they haven’t. My lawyers will bring them to court.

On Tengku Razaleigh as the Opposition Leader:
The party has not discussed it. I think Umno is worried because Amanah is becoming another faction within BN. It will split the Umno votes, not the Malay votes. We will actually benefit from it. We are not in competition with Amanah. We bless them actually.