SEREMBAN: Parti Amanah Negara communications director Khalid Samad says that while uniting the Malay community is fundamentally positive, political collaborations must ultimately serve the greater good of all citizens.
"Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional claim they are fighting for the unity of the ummah. While unity is fundamentally a good thing, its value depends entirely on its purpose.
"The Quran teaches us to cooperate in goodness and righteousness, but forbids us from collaborating in sin and transgression.
"The question we must ask now is whether this cooperation is built on righteousness, or on transgression?" he asked.
Khalid said since the cooperation was formed to overthrow a well-performing government, it represents a unity built upon sin and transgression.
Citing an example, he claimed that the reason which eventually led to the Negri Sembilan polls being called was those who were greedy for power and not for the sake of race or religion.
He emphasised that Pakatan wanted all races to unite behind leaders who perform and deliver results, rather than relying on the race card.
Khalid said the Barisan-Perikatan narrative proved effective during the Johor state election, where PAS members voted for Barisan candidates.
"In Johor, this cooperation was done secretly but here it is being done openly.
"The people and the voters themselves can see the threats and the negative impacts that it brings," he said.
He warned that this trend is not just an electoral hurdle for Pakatan, but a direct threat to building a united nation-state.
"Compartmentalising people by race and ethnicity and pitting them against each other can create systemic national problems," he said.
Also present at the press conference were Pakatan communications director Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil and state Pakatan secretary Cha Kee Chin.
Fahmi said the party had never marginalised the Malays.
"In fact, there were more mosques built when Aminuddin was Mentri Besar. The zakat collection was also two-and-a-half times more than previously," he added.
On a separate matter, Khalid said Pakatan will only consider a debate if Barisan-Perikatan names state Umno chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias as their Mentri Besar candidate.
"If anyone wants a debate with Aminuddin, it has to be the MB candidate.
"Let them declare that first and we shall consider," he added.
