KLUANG: Tan Sri Annuar Musa has called out Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh for hurling personal insults towards Teresa Kok over a difference in opinion.
Annuar, who is PAS deputy election chief, said describing the Seputeh MP as an “old nyonya” over the halal certification controversy recently was not a wise move.
“It is an unparliamentary language used by Akmal. He might have looked brave in doing so but it is better to be brave in a smart way.
“Even if our opinion differs from others, we should not resort to name calling - this is not what Islam has taught us,” he said during a Perikatan Nasional ceramah in Kampung Melayu 2 here on Monday (Sept 23) night.
Annuar added that Muhamad Akmal should have also given Kok the due respect as she is also a Member of Parliament, who was elected by the people.
On Sept 3, Minister in the Prime Minsiter’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar proposed to enforce mandatory halal certification on all eateries that do not serve pork or alcohol.
Kok voiced her opposition to the proposal on Sept 6, saying that the move could be burdensome to small businesses.
Following that, Muhamad Akmal responded by making the inflammatory remark against Kok.
Meanwhile, during the ceramah held in conjunction with the Mahkota by-election, Annuar added that hate-based politics has long been sowed in politicians, including within himself while he was in Umno.
“When I was in Umno, we were taught to hate PAS, likewise in PAS, its members were taught to hate Umno.
“This should not be the way. Politics should be about championing policies and the people’s welfare, not about fighting for personal gain,” added Annuar, who is also Muafakat Nasional chairman.
