SEREMBAN – Politics marked by enmity and hatred that influenced the thinking of the people, particularly the Malays, was among the main factors in Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) defeat in the Melaka state election.
Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) vice-president Datuk Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said there was nothing wrong with any political party joining forces to unite their religion and race, but it must be based on the right principles.
“It was multi-factorial (the defeat in the Melaka election), but what I observed at the start and towards the end, at the ‘grand finale’, was that the Pas president made remarks that I do not wish to repeat. They were highly inappropriate for a multiracial, multireligious and multicultural country.
“This is because they directly contradict what Islam teaches,” he told reporters after officiating the Warda National Convention here on Sunday.
He said poisoning and ensnaring the people’s minds with hatred was frowned upon in Islam.
He added that the Quran also stated that followers of every religion should respect one another without enmity.
“Let us not discriminate. Our unity does not mean being hostile to other religions, races, groups or political views.
“We compete in a healthy way. Winning and losing is a natural part of politics. There is no problem, because we lost in 2021 and won again in 2022, and in 2028 we led Melaka,” he said.
However, he said, PH accepted the defeat in the election because it was part of the nature of competition.
Even so, Dzulkefly said voters should be given a proper understanding of the unity that religion demands.
“Make sure the basis of Malay and Islamic unity is what Allah has taught, by not leaning towards those who commit injustice.
“That is why it is important for Malay voters to be given an understanding of unity, because we (PH) also advocate Islamic and Malay unity, but on a basis that Islam emphasises more, which is piety and justice,” he said.