PETALING JAYA, Jan 26 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called for a bipartisan dialogue today between the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) and opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalitions to solve the “Allah” dispute he argued is derailing Malaysia from its economic goals.
The opposition leader said Malaysians were seeking clarity on the issue even as a campaign is being waged about Islam being under siege.
The PKR adviser said the prime minister must address these issues.
“What are your views on the incessant campaign by your party’s stalwarts in rural areas claiming that Islam is under siege?” Anwar asked of the prime minister.
Religious tensions escalated recently following the January 2 raid by the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) on a bible distributor in Petaling Jaya, where over 300 copies of the bible in the Malay and Iban languages were confiscated.
The move outraged PR leaders, who demanded that the state religious authority adhere to the 10-point solution mooted by the federal government shortly before the Sarawak state election in 2011.
Selangor Umno leaders at the same time threatened to organise protests at churches if the Christians insist on using the word “Allah” in their worship, though the protest plans fell through following intense criticism.
Two days ago, Najib said his administration will continue to uphold their 10-point solution, but added that the guidelines cannot supersede state or federal laws.
Anwar today claimed that statements by certain groups, threatening a possible recurrence of the deadly May 13, 1969 racial riots, have spurred “real fear” among Malaysians across the country.
He said this is yet another reason why there needs to be a bipartisan dialogue to deal with the growing concerns and fears of the public.
“That is why I reiterate our position to call for a dialogue, because we consider the country’s position as no longer tenable. It is not for desperate NGOs and politicians to hijack the nation.
“We cannot go on at this rate. We need national consensus on the ‘Allah’ issue, on corruption, the economy, the rising cost of living, on racial and religious tensions,” the Permatang Pauh MP said.
The de facto PKR chief said PR will continue to reach out to BN for an urgent dialogue, even though the ruling coalition had been cool towards the federal opposition’s previous overtures.
“The Syrians can talk, after hundreds of thousands were killed... do you mean we need to go through a serious incident before we can talk?” Anwar said, referring to the ongoing civil war in the Middle Eastern country.
“We are not asking anything except to engage in dialogue. We in PR are taking an extremely patient and soft line on this... we are still extending an olive branch,” he added.
