KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 1 — Controversial columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah is again pushing for PAS and Umno to collaborate under the guise of Muslim unity, saying this was necessary to prevent his claim of non-Muslim interference in their religious affairs

He said Muslims must always be united and not only come together when necessitated by events such as the recent flood crisis in several states in the Peninsula.

“Big floods come once a year. It can’t be that we only want to propose unity government at that time? We worry (seeing) when there’s a problem, only then will Muslims unite,” the lecturer at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin was quoted saying yesterday by local daily Sinar Harian.

During what is considered as the worst monsoon floods in decades, Sinar Harian’s owner Datuk Dr Hussamuddin Yaacub said last December 31 that only a Kelantan PAS-Umno unity government can rebuild the state.

“Unity is very important when Islam is often diperkotak-katikkan (belittled), in the context of this country when non-Muslims can interfere with the affairs of Muslims,” Ridhuan said in the Sinar Harian report today.

He did not cite instances of this alleged interference.

He also reportedly said Muslims in Malaysia were split across political lines into parties such as Umno, PAS, PKR, and the Pasma group.

“If already split to 10 groups, the implication is to the country and Muslims themselves,” he said, also saying that Malays — who are also constitutionally defined as Muslims — were even divided on economy issues and had ustaz (religious teachers) squabbling with each other.

“Look at the other races, they also quarrel but for big things they sit united at the same table. We should emulate them,” the Muslim convert said.