PETALING JAYA: PKR has condemned PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang for using religion to fuel division during the Melaka election campaign, urging him to retract his remarks and apologise publicly.
PKR deputy secretary-general G. Sivamalar described Abdul Hadi's remarks about non-Muslims as outrageous and inappropriate.
"I demand that Abdul Hadi retract his statement and issue a public apology," she said in a statement.
She was referring to a remark attributed to Abdul Hadi by a news portal, in which he was reported to have said that even "the most wicked Muslims governing the country were not as oppressive as non-Muslims".
Hadi's political secretary Syahir Sulaiman later clarified to the news portal that the PAS president was referring to events in the history of Islamic governance.
Sivamalar said political interests and electoral seats should not take precedence over the need to safeguard harmony among Malaysians.
"Malaysia needs leaders who can unite the people, not those who turn religious differences into political weapons," she said.
According to the Election Commission, there are 687,697 registered voters who are eligible to cast their ballots on Saturday (Nov 14).
In the 16th Melaka polls, 79 candidates including three independents, are contesting across 28 state seats.
