Nur Jazlan warns non-Malay voters that opposing unity govt because of Umno, will only favour PAS

JOHOR BARU, Aug 9 — A Johor Umno leader today cautioned non-Malay voters that if they don’t back the unity government because of Umno then they will only be aiding the Islamist party PAS.

“The non-Malays, whose voters are currently decreasing in numbers, have to reflect back over the last 60 years and ask themselves on what had PAS done for the community.

“In fact, it was Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) that had looked after the community’s welfare and interests,” he said in a statement he shared on his Facebook account today.

Nur Jazlan was commenting on the loss of middle ground or progressive thinkers in PAS that has made the party ultra-conservative and uncompromising in recent years.

The former Pulai MP is known to be highly critical of PAS for their policies, even when they were in the federal government during former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration.

Nur Jazlan said the PAS of today under its president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang is different and confusing.

“PAS no longer puts the struggle of Islam as a pillar and has changed it as a struggle to look for positions and rank.

“In the search for political gain, Abdul Hadi has brought the politics of division and hate to non-Muslims,” said the Dewan Negara deputy Speaker.

Nur Jazlan credited PAS’ previous leaders such as the late Tan Sri Nik Aziz Nik Mat and Datuk Fadzil Noor who maintained the principles of their original struggle while they promoted moderate politics, harmony, and prioritised unity.

“Although the party then puts Islam and the Malays as the basis of their struggle, they also tolerated and accepted non-Islamic cultural or religious differences.

“At that time I respected PAS and their then leaders, despite being an Umno member.

“Although the Umno-PAS clash has been ongoing for the past 45 years, we were both fighting in the context of a rational political atmosphere,” he said.