Umno, PAS explore ties

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has again offered to foster closer ties with PAS.
“It will be dangerous and harmful if the Muslim community is lured into disunity and discord,” he said at the regional conference (Multaqa Serantau) for Al-Azhar graduates today.
“(Thus) this (unity) is not an option ...even the Quran mentions it,” said Najib, citing Quranic verses to emphasise the importance of unity among Muslims.
He said if the two parties cooperate, the country will not be entrapped in any conflict like other Islamic countries.
“Islam calls for unity and mutual assistance among Muslims, as well as celebrating the diverse views and opinions, so the main question that remains is how we should build that unity.
“The first thing we must do is realise that plurality does exist and we should learn the importance of unity among us,” he said.
Najib said Islam is a religion which encourages unity and the Quran has clearly outlined these principles.
“Verse 103 of Surah Ali Imran, for example, clearly urges Muslims to hold fast together by the rope which Allah stretches out for you.
“We have to hold fast to these ropes and not anything else. I, on behalf of Umno and Tuan Guru (Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang) who represents PAS ... so let’s hold fast to this verse,” he said.
Najib’s offer today comes in the wake of an olive branch he offered to PAS at the Umno annual general assembly last week. During the Umno assembly, Najib had offered to foster close ties with PAS and work together to build the nation in accordance with real Islamic doctrine.
Najib and Hadi, who were both invited speakers at the function, had earlier greeted and sat next to each other during the conference.
In his speech, Hadi said Muslims in the country should not quarrel among themselves just because of different ideologies.
He said although Muslims here cannot escape having different ideologies, he was confident the differences would not reach a level which could trigger wars.
“Do not let it become like the Middle East. Sunni fight Sunni, Syiah against Syiah ... all because of differing ideologies.
“We may have misunderstandings, conflicting thoughts, but we must never let it lead to wars,” Hadi said.
Both Najib and Hadi, who were clad in pink, had earlier greeted and sat next to each other during the conference.
According to al-Azhar Graduates Malaysia (WAAG Malaysia) chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Fakhrudin Abdul Mukti, the seminar was held to discuss political and ideological differences faced by the Muslim community in the country.
“In this context, we have focused on political understanding, because we have taken into account that most of the Muslims in the country tend to lean towards the two largest Islamic political parties (PAS and Umno).
“One of the purposes of this meet is to bring together, to instil the spirit of discussion and dialogue ... and maybe what happens here can affect the Muslim community in our country,” Mohd Fakhrudin added.