The former prime minister also says the government should stop people from instigating racial riots.
KUALA LUMPUR: Ultra Muslim NGO, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) should stop making unnecessary comments which do not help any group in the country, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The country’s fourth prime minister said this in response to Isma president, Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman, who said that the Chinese brought by the British into Malaya, were “trespassers”.
“The Chinese are Malaysian citizens and as citizens they have their rights. (Also), we do not want people to instigate racial riots,” he told reporters.
Dr Mahathir also lashed out at Abdullah, asking the Isma president to read the Quran properly as the Islamic penal code or hudud is not applicable on non-Muslims.
He said this in reply to Abdullah’s assertion today that hudud should be enforced on non-Muslims.
“The Quran says that God does not like people who create turmoil in the country, so he should follow the Quran,” said Dr Mahathir.
Dr Mahathir said this after launching a book, ‘Reminiscences of Insurrection: Malaysia’s Battle Against Terrorism 1960-1990′, authored by Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Mohd Azzam Mohd Hanif Ghows.
Najib in a difficult situation
When asked if the recent extremist statements were due to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak having failed to control the situation, Mahathir said Najib is “trying to do a good job in a difficult situation”.
“This extremism is a result of one faction saying nasty things and then the other has to reply, that is why I say it is not constructive. Also, we did not give him (Najib) a strong enough mandate,” he said.
He explained that Najib was in a difficult situation because when action is taken, the government is accused of not being liberal.
“The opposition demands us to be liberal, but when we are liberal they misuse that liberalism and if we take action against them, we are accused of not being liberal.”
Commenting on attacks carried out by extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab in Africa, the former prime minister said that the groups were misled and their actions, un-Islamic.
“They think they are doing something in accordance with the teachings of Islam, but it is wrong. Muslims are supposed to be brothers, but they are fond of killing other Muslims,” he said.
On another matter, in conjunction with Umno’s 68th anniversary of its founding this Sunday, Mahathir admitted that support for the party has lessened.
“Although Umno is still accepted, support seemed to have lessened. Umno should take this as a lesson and rectify the situation,” said Mahathir.
As advice to the top party leadership, Mahathir said that they should listen to what the rakyat wants.
“But they should not take heed of the Opposition too much since their aim is to take over the government. However, if we ignore all their criticisms, we will continue losing support,” he said.
The country’s fourth prime minister said this in response to Isma president, Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman, who said that the Chinese brought by the British into Malaya, were “trespassers”.
“The Chinese are Malaysian citizens and as citizens they have their rights. (Also), we do not want people to instigate racial riots,” he told reporters.
Dr Mahathir also lashed out at Abdullah, asking the Isma president to read the Quran properly as the Islamic penal code or hudud is not applicable on non-Muslims.
He said this in reply to Abdullah’s assertion today that hudud should be enforced on non-Muslims.
“The Quran says that God does not like people who create turmoil in the country, so he should follow the Quran,” said Dr Mahathir.
Dr Mahathir said this after launching a book, ‘Reminiscences of Insurrection: Malaysia’s Battle Against Terrorism 1960-1990′, authored by Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Mohd Azzam Mohd Hanif Ghows.
Najib in a difficult situation
When asked if the recent extremist statements were due to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak having failed to control the situation, Mahathir said Najib is “trying to do a good job in a difficult situation”.
“This extremism is a result of one faction saying nasty things and then the other has to reply, that is why I say it is not constructive. Also, we did not give him (Najib) a strong enough mandate,” he said.
He explained that Najib was in a difficult situation because when action is taken, the government is accused of not being liberal.
“The opposition demands us to be liberal, but when we are liberal they misuse that liberalism and if we take action against them, we are accused of not being liberal.”
Commenting on attacks carried out by extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab in Africa, the former prime minister said that the groups were misled and their actions, un-Islamic.
“They think they are doing something in accordance with the teachings of Islam, but it is wrong. Muslims are supposed to be brothers, but they are fond of killing other Muslims,” he said.
On another matter, in conjunction with Umno’s 68th anniversary of its founding this Sunday, Mahathir admitted that support for the party has lessened.
“Although Umno is still accepted, support seemed to have lessened. Umno should take this as a lesson and rectify the situation,” said Mahathir.
As advice to the top party leadership, Mahathir said that they should listen to what the rakyat wants.
“But they should not take heed of the Opposition too much since their aim is to take over the government. However, if we ignore all their criticisms, we will continue losing support,” he said.
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