Weak government has led to spike in racial, religious extremism, Dr M suggests

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad suggested today that Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration’s weak mandate in the 2013 general elections has caused a spike in racial and religious extremism.

According to the nation’s longest-serving prime minister, sectarian tensions are usually ignited by one faction “saying nasty things”, but will spread when other groups join in the fray.

“He’s trying to do a good job, he is in a difficult situation, we didn’t give him a strong enough mandate,” said Dr Mahathir told the press here, referring to Prime Minister Najib.

The former prime minister also pointed out that Najib has his hands tied and cannot take action against those who abuse liberalism for fear of being labelled as an illiberal by his critics.

“On one hand we want liberalism… When we are liberal they misuse the liberalism.

If you take action against them, then you’re accused of being not liberal,” Dr Mahathir said, referring to opposition lawmakers and proponents of liberalism.

Meanwhile, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) claimed today that Umno’s weak stand on Malay rights has emboldened the country’s non-Muslim “immigrants” into attempting to destroy Islam’s position in Malaysia.

The hard-core Islamist group has been raising its public profile over the past one year with its provocative remarks against Malaysia’s racial and religious minorities.

This is the second time in two weeks that Najib’s administration has come under fire from Dr Mahathir over its weak mandate stemming from last year’s polls.

Najib’s BN coalition scraped through the general election with the weakest majority in Malaysia’s history.

Barisan Nasional (BN) won 133 seats in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat while the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition pact won 89.

The BN coalition garnered just under 47 per cent of the popular vote against PR’s 51 per cent.

Last week, Dr Mahathir said a weak Barisan Nasional government is to blame for the resurging calls for controversial hudud laws, especially from Umno rival PAS.

According to the former prime minister, the strict Islamic law is being used as a vote bait by its proponents, while Najib’s administration is unable to curb it due to a weaker majority in the Parliament.