|
Government Frightening Malaysians Says Opposition Leader
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Party Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat on Wednesday lambasted the Malaysian government for creating an atmosphere of fear in the country.
The chief minister of Kelantan, a struggling northern Malaysian state with an embattled economy and controlled by the PAS since 1990, said there were no threats to peace or stability in Malaysia.
He added it was the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and the ruling National Front (NF) of Prime Minister Mohamad Mahathir that was behind the entire situation.
"Look at Malaysia, a peaceful country where communist threat has vanished…hold ups and robberies are not threats to the national security, but are localized issues," Nik Aziz said.
He was alluding to the arrest of several members of a gang in May this year and late last month, which included his son Nik Adli Nik Aziz. Police said the gang was part of an unknown group called the Malaysian Militant Group (KMM).
Mahathir said the group was a threat to the country and that the police took early action against them in order to prevent them from perpetrating jihad (holy struggle) on Malaysian soil.
He added that police had sufficient proof that members of the gang, many of which are PAS members, were going to act against the Malaysian government.
"There are absolutely no threats to Malaysian security besides the threats to the security of the UMNO a party which is loosing more grounds among the public," said the 60-year-old leader.
Nik Aziz also challenged the authorities to come up with valid proof that his son is effectively the alleged leader of the KMM, urging authorities not to use the issue for political gains.
He said the recent arrests made under the International Security Act (ISA) were undemocratic and that the ISA was being used as a tool muzzle the regime's opponents.
"I think such laws like the ISA are not even used in other countries to silence opponents," he said.
The ISA allows detention without bail and trial for 60 days, which can be extended to two years jail or more.
A number of influential opposition members, including popular orator Mohamad Ezam Noor of the National Justice Party (NJP), or Adil, were arrested under the ISA earlier this year and sent to Kamunting jail for two years.
The opposition claims the government is drumming up the issues of national security and opposition attempts to overthrow the Mahathir regime by undemocratic means.
Nik Aziz said the regime in Putra Jaya, the new administrative city, was using the police to curb the opposition. He said the ban on public rallies and on political Video CD's (VCD) was politically motivated.
He said there were no reasons for the opposition to organize rallies to overthrow the government since the PAS and its opposition partners in the Alternative Front (AF) were pro-democratic and respected elections in Malaysia.
The PAS has ordered its members to violate the ban, and several of its members have been arrested while participating in "illegal" rallies around the country.
The NF has led Malaysia since its independence more than 40 years ago. It, however, lost considerable support during the 1999 general elections, which saw a huge push forward by the PAS.
The PAS doubled its gains during these elections, capturing some 20 seats from the UMNO in Malay-Muslim dominated areas and snatching another state, Terengganu, from its control.
|
