Ismail Sabri: Umno-PAS 'jihad' is not war
Describing the partnership between Umno and PAS as a 'jihad' (holy war) does not mean that war is being declared against any group, explained Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Yesterday, Ismail was quoted as saying by The Malaysian Insight that the Umno-PAS pact was a 'jihad' to overthrow the 'anti-Malay, anti-Islam' Pakatan Harapan government...
UPDATED 3.40PM | Umno veep says party is 'still moderate', adding that 'jihad' refers to struggle against Harapan gov't.
Describing the partnership between Umno and PAS as a 'jihad' (holy war) does not mean that war is being declared against any group, explained Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Yesterday, Ismail was quoted as saying by The Malaysian Insight that the Umno-PAS pact was a ‘jihad' to overthrow the Pakatan Harapan government for being allegedly anti-Malay and anti-Islamic.
The word 'jihad' in this context refers to 'struggle', he told the media when met at the Parliament lobby today.
"Jihad means struggle, it has nothing to do with war. Some people think (it is a) war against another. No. Jihad means struggle; struggle in economy and struggle in education," Ismail said.
He added that during his tenure as domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism minister, he had “announced jihad against middlemen, but no middleman was shot dead”.
The Bera MP also pointed to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, whom he said had launched an education jihad as an education minister under the BN administration.
As such, he reassured non-Muslims and non-Malays that Umno is "still moderate" and its struggle will not divide the country.
He also claimed that non-Muslims and non-Malays had never been oppressed by PAS.
Ismail Sabri cited two incidents that allegedly showed that the Harapan government was against Malays and Islam - that the government had "allowed a march to recognise LGBT rights" to occur, which he said had "hurt Muslims"; and that the cabinet had "discussed which toilet they (the LGBT community) should use".
The Umno vice-president was referring to the International Women's Day March, which had, among others, called for an end to child marriage and gender-based violence.
However, this message was overshadowed by the focus on the presence of some participants from the LGBT community.
Additionally, de facto religious minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa had held a meeting with transgender activist Nisha Ayub in August last year.
The meeting had attracted controversy after several news reports quoted Mujahid as saying that a transgender like Nisha who "looks like a woman" should be allowed to use a female toilet with no questions asked.
Mujahid had since clarified that he had not given any "permission" for transgender people to access a female public toilet.
MIC and MCA's response
Responding to a question, Ismail Sabri said he has no idea if MIC and MCA have agreed to Umno declaring 'jihad' against the Harapan government.
Meanwhile, MIC deputy president M Saravanan disagreed that the Harapan administration has an agenda against Muslims and Malays.
"I don't think any party in this country can survive with anti-Malay and anti-Islam (approach)," he said.
He also revealed that MIC had not realised that PAS was "moderate all this while", and that they had only made the latter discovery following the PAS president's visit to MIC headquarters last Friday.
"The true Islam (sic) spirit is very moderate and they (PAS) accommodate all other races," he said.
"PAS is moderate all this while, not racist. Now only we realise, we didn't identify (before this)," he said.
Following Hadi's visit to MIC, he said the party has instructed its grassroot leaders to work closely with the Islamic party at the divisional level.
Meanwhile, MCA president Wee Ka Siong declined to comment.
The media should ask Ismail Sabri for his response since he first uttered the remark, he said when pressed several times at the Parliament lobby today.
