Amanah rejects Malay-Muslim supremacy, Mat Sabu says

SHAH ALAM, Sept 16 ― Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) rejects the doctrine of Malay-Muslim supremacy or “Muslim nationalism” and will instead push for a more inclusive Islam in politics, party president Mohamad Sabu said today.

In his presidential speech at Amanah’s launch here, Mohamad who is popularly known by his moniker Mat Sabu, said that a “tolerant” and more “open” version of Islam should be practised here in a multiracial country like Malaysia.

“The Islam which we will fight for is different from the ideology of ‘Muslim Nationalism’ which displays a doctrine of Malay-Muslim supremacy.

“It is confusing for an Islamic political party to join forces with parties or NGOs which  promote a Malay-Muslim agenda,” Mohamad said.

He added that it is important for Islam to be portrayed as a system which provides justice and peace for all Malaysians irrespective of race or creed.

 

But Mohamad also stressed that Amanah was still a party which based its policies and agenda on Islam.

“The concept of Malay-Muslim supremacy gives an impression as though Islam or Malays are always under attack by other races and religions.

“It is as if the country will be christianised and that the Chinese are plotting to take away political power from the Malays,” Mohamad said.

He also pledged that Amanah would work hard to ensure the success and continuity of the new Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition.

Mohamad made no remark about PKR’s attempts for PAS to join the new PR coalition.

Amanah was made an official political party on August 31, founded by PAS splinter group Harapan Baru (HB) made up of former progressive PAS leaders ousted of their party posts in the party elections earlier this year.

Amanah, which was established by HB’s taking over of previously dormant Malaysian Workers’ Party, aims to secure 35,000 members by the end of this month.

Its member claim that they are intent on presenting a more universal and inclusive form of Islam in Malaysian politics as a counterpoint to their former party’s conservative take on the religion.

SOURCE: The Malay Mail