PAS state commissioner Abu Bakar Hussain (below) alleges that Umno's claim to be the champions in fighting for the rights of Malays is a hollow one, especially in state land matters and creating religious awareness among the Malay youths.

NONE"About 60% of secondary Malay students cannot recite the Quran and do not know how to write the Jawi script," he said.

"Why keep the Malay youths in the dark about religious matters, and why is Umno not promoting the Jawi language among them?" he asked.

He said the lack of strong religious education is is one of the reasons why Malay youths easily fall into the trap of social ills.

Abu Bakar said this in his speech at the` Himpunan Pemuda PAS Perak's programme where about 10,000 youths turned up for the event at PAS Darul Talim centre at Kubu Gajah in Selama today.

Tight security

Several top PAS state and national leaders attended the one-day carnival meet, which had tight security but no shortage of enthusiasm from youths state-wide attending the event.

Abu Bakar rubbished allegations by Umno that PAS had given state land to the Chinese in Perak, saying that PAS does not distinguish between Malays, Chinese and Indians when it comes to distribution of state land for the poor and landless.

He further said that Umno giving state land to their “cronies” and BN component parties was far worse, as Umno was giving precious state land to the well-off and the rich, whereas Pakatan only addresses land for the needy.

"Pakatan land contributions to the poor Chinese is nothing compared to the thousands of acres given to MCA cronies in Kampar, Beruas and other towns," he pointed out.

He also alleged that Umno is seriously disadvantaging impoverished Malays in Trengganu and Kelantan by not giving them the Petronas oil dues that would improve their living standards of living.