KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak refused to be drawn into a debate today over MCA’s objection to an alliance with PAS due to the latter party’s push for an Islamic state.On Saturday, the prime minister invited PAS to join Umno but MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek closed the door the day after, saying the Islamist party must first abandon its Islamic principles.
“You know, I do not want to enter into this polemic over what is [an] Islamic state because there are various interpretation of what is Islamic state,” Najib told reporters here today.
Yesterday, Dr Chua said Najib is aware that his party will not accept PAS turning the country into an Islamic state although the prime minister cited Islam as a reason for the offer.
“MCA’s stand has been very clear that we will not accept PAS trying to make this country into a theocratic Islamic state. We will not accept that and PM is fully aware of MCA’s stance.
“They can join BN if they abandon their policy of turning this country into a theocratic Islamic state,” Dr Chua said.
Najib, who is also Umno president, had thrown open the doors on Saturday for PAS to join Barisan Nasional and further the concerns of Malays and Muslims, telling the Islamist party that it could not achieve its aims while partnering with DAP.
His invitation follows a call last weekend by Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia for a “1 Melayu, 1 Bumi” campaign to unite the Malays against what the newspaper said was racial politics by the DAP to stir up Chinese sentiment.
It also continues concerted efforts by Umno post-Election 2008 to get PAS to join forces in the name of Malay-Muslim unity.
The subject of unity talks between PAS and Umno had dominated the 2009 PAS Muktamar, which saw a number of leaders keen on exploring talks with Umno emerge as big winners.
More recently, top PAS and Umno leadership met at a Christmas Eve dinner, hosted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong last year, during which the subject of Malay unity was once again broached.
Sources told The Malaysian Insider the move then to bring PAS into BN entailed both PAS president Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang and his deputy Nasharuddin Mat Isa being given a prominent role in Putrajaya if the party decides to abandon Pakatan Rakyat (PR), but spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat continues to be the major obstacle in bringing PAS closer to the ruling coalition.
Following the furore over the Christmas Eve meet, Hadi had reassured his partners in PR that the Islamist party was committed to remaining in the pact.
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