SEREMBAN: Pakatan Harapan has rejected claims that only one political bloc represents the Malay-Muslim community, describing such a narrative as inconsistent with Malaysia’s multicultural reality, says coalition communications director Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
He said attempts to portray a single group as the sole representative of Malay-Muslims during the Negri Sembilan election were inaccurate, pointing out that Pakatan also has many Malay-Muslim leaders.
“Recently, some leaders have created the impression that only one group can claim to represent Malay-Muslims. Is Khalid Abdul Samad not a Malay-Muslim? Am I not a Malay-Muslim?
“Such exclusive politics does not reflect the country’s diversity and pluralism. Instead, it only creates unhealthy divisions,” he told a press conference here yesterday, which was also attended by Khalid, who is Amanah communications director.
Fahmi, who is also PKR information chief and Communications Minister, said Pakatan would continue engaging voters to demonstrate that Malay-Muslims are not sidelined under the coalition’s administration.
“For Pakatan, we take this matter seriously and will work harder to engage voters and help them understand that Malay-Muslims are not marginalised within Pakatan,” he said.
He added that there were more mosques built under the administration of Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, while zakat (tithe) collections have risen by nearly two-and-a-half times compared with the previous administration.
Meanwhile, Khalid questioned the perpaduan ummah (unity of community) narrative bandied about by Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.
He asked whether the call for unity was based on righteousness and the common good or driven by political interests.
Khalid added that Pakatan advocates unity founded on shared values and the common good, bringing together all Malaysians regardless of race.
“We want Malays to unite, Chinese to unite, Indians to unite and all Malaysians to stand together, not based on ethnic chauvinism, but in pursuit of goodness and righteousness,” he said.
On a separate matter, Khalid said that Pakatan would only consider a debate if both Barisan and 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.”
