KOTA KINABALU: Sabah leaders have taken offence to former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s use of religion as polling day draws near.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) candidate Kenny Chua said the claim by Muhyiddin, seen in a video accusing Christians of being in cahoots with a group of Jews to promote and Christianise Malaysia, was unacceptable.
"What he said was uncalled for, blaming the Christians in the country as if the community had a hidden agenda," he said on Friday (Nov 18).
"This is not the way we do things in Malaysia. Why do you need to play the religion card?" said Chua, who is in a four-way battle for the Penampang parliamentary seat.
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The vice president of Perikatan Nasional component Sabah STAR said he was only voicing the people's feelings, especially in Sabah, over what the coalition chairman and Bersatu president said.
"As a Christian myself, I am very disappointed with what Muhyiddin said as I am totally against it," said Chua.
In a TikTok video, Muhyiddin could be seen giving a speech where he tells the public not to vote for Pakatan Harapan as the Opposition was being backed by a group of Jews and Christians pushing for a Christianisation agenda in Malaysia.
"Pakatan Harapan is a huge danger. I saw a video where a group of Jews were talking about Malaysia and were praying for the country to fall into the hands of the Opposition, which has been sponsoring these groups of Jews and Christians.
"For me this is dangerous. Is a Christianisation process going to happen?" Muhyiddin is heard saying in the clip.
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The Council of Churches of Malaysia had also earlier on Friday condemned the statement by Muhyiddin, with its general secretary Rev Jonathan Jesudas saying the claim was not only untrue but also irresponsible for a politician of his standing to make such a public statement.
Parti Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking also took aim at the former prime minister, contending that Muhyiddin was trying to divide the people with false allegations.
"The people should reject this type of leader, especially Muhyiddin, the chairman of Perikatan and whose party (Bersatu) is the main component of GRS.
"This is not the country we agreed to form in 1963. As for Warisan we stand firm with the people of Malaysia, there is no such thing (as the Christianisation agenda)," said Leiking, who is defending the Penampang seat.
Pakatan Harapan deputy Youth chief Felix Joseph Saang demanded that Muhyiddin retract the statement and apologise to Christians in Malaysia, saying the accusation was baseless and a disgraceful last-ditch effort to confuse voters.
"A man of his calibre should be wise enough to not use religion as a political tactic. This is a cheap move.
"It’s truly saddening to hear a former prime minister utter those hurtful words," said Saang, who is also Upko Youth chief.
Saang is in a five-way tussle for the east coast Beluran seat against incumbent Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee of Perikatan and Barisan Nasional’s Benedict Asmat, among others.
