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PAS leader pushing radical views in rally call, says Amanah veep

PAS leader pushing radical views in rally call, says Amanah veep

Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar said to describe taking to the streets as a religious obligation sends the wrong signal. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : Amanah has accused PAS's Ulama Council chief Ahmad Yahaya of espousing radical views in saying that Malaysians are morally and religiously obligated to join an anti-Anwar Ibrahim rally this weekend.
The party's vice-president, Mahfuz Omar, said as an ulama or religious scholar, Ahmad should call for calm instead of fanning divisive sentiments and exploiting religion for political gain.
Mahfuz said there was nothing tyrannical about Anwar's administration to justify calling for the current government to be toppled.
'To describe taking to the streets as a religious obligation sends the wrong signal and reeks of extremism.
'The call by the Ulama Council is a form of incitement. Don't exploit Islam to seize power,' he said in a statement.
Ahmad had urged Malaysians to join the mass rally planned at Dataran Merdeka this Saturday, saying it was their moral and religious duty to voice their concerns against the government.
Perikatan Nasional, of which PAS is a component party, planned the rally to push for Anwar's resignation.
The organisers expect up to 300,000 participants, although a similar protest in Shah Alam earlier this month drew just over 300.
Mahfuz said that any change of government must be done constitutionally and not by inciting people to take to the streets.
He also said the country was on the 'cusp of danger' when politicians exploit religion to seize power.
'Legitimising the opposition's tactics will destroy the nation,' he said.
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