Say no to race superiority, Mat Sabu tells Amanah

PETALING JAYA: Reject the ideology of one superior race and minority dominance for Malaysia’s diversity, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

The Amanah president said that this was because the party does not abide by “identity politics” as bandied by the Opposition Perikatan Nasional which propagates fear that Malays and Islam were under constant attack.

He said the holier-than-thou attitude by certain parties championing Islam should not be allowed.

The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said this in his presidential speech at the two-day Amanah 2023 National Convention being held in Klang, on Saturday (Dec 23).

“Amanah rejects the discrimination of minority races which instantly dominates the minorities with the “Ketuanan Kaum" (race superiority) concept. Amanah also opposes identity politics as championed by Perikatan.

“Identity politics must be opposed by Amanah as it takes the approach of fear-mongering among the Malays and Muslims that Islam is allegedly threatened and the Malays are sidelined.

He said that When religion was extremely practised, together with racial politics, it was akin to forgetting the diversity of culture and ethnicity of the country’s races and the country would continue in this turmoil and power struggle which would take on the form of identity politics which was toxic, extreme and stagnant.

“Religion and ethnicity are two identities which can easily be abused and ridden as a political capital, which will lead to “takfiri” (Muslim calling another believer an apostate) or a political party to regard their opponent to be unbelievers or less Muslim than them.

“Amanah proposes and champions the progressive and inclusive ideology in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the basic tenets of the Pakatan Harapan charter.

“Only those who realise the need for political stability and racial harmony would take the centrist, moderate and progressive approach in advocating their ideologies,” said Mohamad.

He further called for better unity within the party itself and not to lose their “moral compass”.

Mohamad also took potshots at PAS without mentioning them, stating that the “First Generation” Islamist parties championed Islam by calling for the implementation of Hudud (Islamic criminal law) and Islamic state.

“The second generation of Islamist parties such as Amanah champions Islam in the reality context of a country and understands that the Federal Constitution is the backbone of the country,” said Mohamad.

Amanah is a breakaway party after a group led by Mohamad left PAS in 2015, due to political differences.

The party is currently part of the ruling coalition of Pakatan led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.