KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 ― A group of religious leaders have criticised former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for choosing to attend a national DAP conference on Sunday instead of a rally support the Rohingya community.
The Ulama-Umara Malaysia (UMUM) secretariat in a statement today said Dr Mahathir should step down as the chairman of the Perdana Global Peace Foundation.
“It is disappointing to see Dr Mahathir opt not to join the humanitarian rally but instead choose to attend the DAP convention, a party that doesn’t acknowledge Malaysia as a Muslim country, but a secular one,” it said in a statement here.
“Dr Mahathir should also step back from his position as a Global Peace Foundation chairman for saying the Solidarity for Rohingya rally was a street rally.
“Maybe due to his age, he is no longer able to tell the difference between the Bersih 5 demonstration that was held recently, with our assembly that was held in a closed stadium, complete with police permit and fulfilling the Peaceful Assembly laws,” it said.
The Solidarity for Rohingyas gathering at the Titiwangsa Stadium on Sunday was attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak along with PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, other leaders of Umno and PAS as well as more than 20,000 Rohingyas residing in Malaysia.
Dr Mahathir had attended a DAP conference for the first time in 50 years since the party started, along with PKR president Datuk Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
UMUM said that Dr Mahathir should be using his influence from his 22 years as Prime Minister to add international pressure and coming up with ways on how the foundation could contribute to helping their Muslim brethren in Myanmar by sending medical aid and food, and other supplies.
“If he cannot do that, the least he can do is collect RM10 per member of his party as a sign of their solidarity for the Muslim Rohingya.
“If he cannot even do that, then he should refrain from criticizing the Muslim ngos who are trying to do something to save our Muslim brothers,” UMUM added.
