PAS, Umno must unite to save BN and Malays, says ex-CJ

Former chief justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad (centre) with Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali (right) and Perkasa vice-president Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar at the Malay group's national convention last year. Hamid feels DAP will take a dominant role should Pakatan Rakyat win the next general election. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 22, 2015.PAS and Umno must unite to save Barisan Nasional (BN) should Pakatan Rakyat (PR) win the 14th general election, as DAP wil destroy the rights of the Malays and Islam's special position if it gained power, former chief justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad said today.

He urged PAS to set aside its differences with Umno and realise that protecting the Malays from DAP through BN meant protecting Muslims and Islam from ruin in Malaysia.

"If the BN federal government falls after the 14th general election, PAS should join BN so that it is saved at the federal level," wrote Hamid in a column in Umno mouthpiece Mingguan Malaysia today.

"PAS must realise that the cooperation between DAP and PKR will sacrifice the interests of the Malays and Islam."

Hamid claimed that the Chinese felt they were stronger now because they were united behind DAP, and were beginning to make excessive demands and challenge Islam, including the Friday sermons.

"They are not satisfied with the 'privileges' enjoyed by the Malays. They want it all to be divided 'equally'. They know if they do this, they will control everything because they control the economy, they are rich and more advanced in all fields. They actually want to take the rights of the Malays without sacrificing their own rights."

He said a PR government would see DAP taking a dominant role and give the Chinese community "more" than what the BN had given them.

"And where will that 'more' come from? Definitely from the Malays."

Hamid claimed that PAS and Umno's ideology were similar, and the only thing preventing the two parties from working together were their respective leaders' fears that it would rob them of their interests.

He said anything that profited the Malays would profit Muslims, and vice versa.

"Thus, Umno and PAS leaders who are both Malays and Muslims, who would both gain and suffer (the same things), must focus their attention on the big threat before them, the Malays and the Muslims in Malaysia.

"They should set aside their differences that were created for political purposes, and focus their efforts into saving the Malays and the position of Islam."

Hamid said that PAS need not join BN yet, but should leave PR and contest in the next election on its own and govern the states it wins by itself.

Hamid suggested that in cases where a state may fall to DAP and PKR, the Islamist party should work with BN to form a unity government.

"At the federal level, PAS can choose to join the Cabinet and sit with the BN MPs in Parliament. Or they can choose not join the Cabinet and sit separately in Parliament like other independent representatives, but in issues that involve the interests of the Malays and Islam, they will support the BN government.

In a bid to emphasise the similarities between the two parties, Hamid said many of Kelantan's Syariah laws were actually enacted during BN's time.

"If Kelantan is 'more Islamic' than other states and the Kelantanese want an 'Islamic' nation, then why are the Kelantanese the highest number of people who leave their state to earn a livelihood?" he added.

"Umno must also tackle the perception that its leaders are corrupt, it is the main factor why Malays 'hate' Umno, whether or not that perception is correct."

Hamid reminded the public that under BN's rule, the country has been peaceful and harmonious, and everyone enjoyed a high standard of living.

He said barring the past decade, the Malays were united behind Umno and the party was able to control its allies and prevent it from making "excessive demands".

Under BN's rule, he said, the Malays have enjoyed the New Economic Policy (NEP), scholarships, positions in the civil service as well as agencies and programmes that benefited the Bumiputeras such as Permodalan Nasional Berhad, Mara, and Felda.

"I don't think a PR government will or can carry out the same thing. This means the rights of the Malays and the position of Islam will be eroded if the BN government led by Umno is toppled."

He added that peace in Malaysia was shattered only when the Malay vote was divided into three, and the Chinese become more bold and begin challenging the Malays.

"The Malays divided into three. Seeing that situation, the Chinese cleverly made their calculations and united behind DAP. PKR and PAS agreed to cooperate with DAP. As a result, the non-Malays will determine the results of the general election.

"Because they feel they are strong, the non-Malays, especially the Chinese, have begun making excessive demands and challenging Islam, including the Friday sermons."

- TMI