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by Kazi Mahmood KUALA LUMPUR (IslamOnline) - Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said efforts by the opposition in sowing hatred and instigating the people pose a danger to Malaysian society. He targeted the Party Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) as the cause of anti-government feeling among the majority Malay-Muslim population of the country. He advised the people to be wary of such opposition tactics, adding that people influenced by such hate campaigns would become angry and driven to commit crazy acts like seizing weapons and murder. Mohamad, President of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) said it was reported that recently, a popular local singer Siti Nurhaliza, was attacked by a youth. "I believe this may be the result of efforts in sowing hatred," he said. Nurhaliza was stabbed, and nearly killed, by a young man armed with a penknife at Stadium Larkin in Johor Baharu on October 15th. She became the center of a controversy last year after she delivered a speech praising the government in the middle of an electoral campaign. In the same address, she tried to direct the audience to vote for Mohamad's party. The opposition National Justice Party (NJP) then launched a "boycott Siti" campaign that was heeded by pro-Reformasi supporters. Placing emphasis on the hate campaign, Mohamad claims his government is a victim, stating that it is general knowledge that the demonstrations were held by certain people to protest entertainment performances. He said his party, the UMNO, would not resort to such hate campaigns to win the people's support. The Islamic party, PAS, has staged several anti-concert rallies in Kelantan arguing that entertainment performances are not part of the Muslim culture. "Malaysia, as a democratic country, allowed the various parties to use their own platforms and ideas to canvass for support in a bid to form the government. "However, of late, some parties did not campaign on the development agenda or what they could do for the people, but instead focused on instilling hatred towards the country's leaders and the government," Mohamad said. He added if the opposition wanted to fight the government, it should match the UMNO's efforts in development and its ability to form a stable and successful government. Proving that his party has contributed substantially in the development of Malaysia, Mohamad said the country had developed from an agriculture country into an industrial economy since gaining independence. Its population has increased from 5 to 23 million today, with many American, Japanese and European companies establishing factories due to the government's efforts in attracting foreign investment. "Foreign investors also realized that Malaysian workers were efficient, could be easily trained, and were now capable of producing any kind of goods," the aging Premier said. The country's level of industrialization has progressed to the stage where it can design and manufacture automobiles like the Proton, as well as manufacture light aircraft and wing components for Boeing jets. Mohamad also commented that job opportunities have increased to such an extent that the country attracts foreign workers. |
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