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Political parties must bury differences and work together with govt to fight extremists, says former law minister Zaid Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR: Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim urges political parties to move beyond condemnation of extremism and work together to fight the "extremists".

In a post on X yesterday, Zaid said this following the attack on the Ulu Tiram police station and the delivery of live bullets to DAP leader Teresa Kok recently.

He urged Pas and DAP to stop branding one another as extreme, emphasising that political parties should set an example to reduce such extreme behaviour.

"DAP should invite Pas to join the government. Pas should stop attacking Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Everybody should ride the Putrajaya bandwagon, and I am sure we can reduce extremism overnight.

"Umno should support any idea of bringing Pas into the government. They were all together 75 years ago; why not now?

"While some people celebrate the destruction of the Umno/BN hegemony, these people do not realise that without a solid united stand, we can't have peace, let alone effective governance from Putrajaya. "Policies do not get implemented," he said in the post.

Zaid added that it was clear that extremism was on the rise and warned of a dangerous cycle of extremism leading to harsh government responses, further extremism and potential violence.

"Extremist activities will cause the government to react and respond in what they consider the proper response.

"Sometimes, the response may not be proportionate; sometimes, the response will cause aggravation and a more extreme reaction. The prospect of violence will spiral.

"Condemning extremism is not enough. Working together is the best way. Share the spoils but keep some for the citizens," he said.

In the 2.54am, May 17 incident, two policemen, Constables Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar, 22, and Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said, 24, were killed by a "lone wolf" attacker, aged 21. The suspect was later shot and killed at the scene.

On May 19, it was reported that Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok had received a death threat in a letter enclosed with two bullets in her mailbox.

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