KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim chided Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang over his remarks discrediting the federal government because a Muslim-majority political coalition does not lead the administration.
Without mincing his words, Anwar told off the Pas president to stop resorting to 'kolot' (old-fashioned) and 'jumud' (backward) narratives when criticising the capability of the unity government.
"It is wrong for him to come to such a conclusion.
"What is important is the policy (that the federal government formulated and implemented) left for the people and not which party commands the majority (in the unity government)," Anwar told reporters after the launch of the Orientalist Paintings: Mirror or Mirage? Exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum of Malaysia (IAMM) here today.
Present were Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, the Albukhary Foundation chairman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, IAMM director Syed Mohamed Albukhary and the prime minister's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Abdul Hadi was quoted as saying that Pakatan Harapan (PH) was unfit to be the government and lead the country because non-Muslim parties dominate the coalition.
The Marang member of parliament was also quoted as saying that today's unity government is weak since it is not led by a Malay-Muslim party.
Anwar later put Abdul Hadi in the spotlight when he asked the latter to list down all the policies implemented by the federal government under his leadership which neglected Islam and the Malays.
"Which of the policies (that showed the unity government) neglected Islam? Which of the policies (that showed the federal government) betray the Malays?
"Did we ever steal their lands, shares or projects (supposedly given to the Malays)
"Such questions are important before you want to evaluate us. Stop resorting to `kolot 'and `jumud' narratives," said the prime minister.
Anwar later reminded Abdul Hadi that the country's population was made of Malays and people from other races.
"Our country is made of people from various races.
"As we continue upholding the sanctity of Islam, we must also look into and protect the rights of people from other faiths.
"This is our guarantee to ensure peace in our country. And, I do not want people to be misled by sentiments (spread among irresponsible quarters trying to divide the people," he said.
Anwar said many "tokoh lama" (past leaders) feared his federal administration's all-out war against corruption.
"They (past leaders) asked why I am digging past cases.
"I just want to make sure what belongs to the rakyat is being returned to them," he said.