PENDANG: Amanah vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar has dismissed claims that the Madani government is cracking down on Bersatu's efforts to defend the rights of Malays, Bumiputeras and the position of Islam.
Mahfuz described the allegation, made by Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, as mere political hearsay intended to stir up racial and religious sentiments ahead of the Mahkota by-election.
Mahfuz said Muhyiddin's freedom to express his views and the extensive media coverage of his comments instead showed that there is no such crackdown.
"What exactly are we restricting over their (Bersatu's) freedom of speech? What about his speech yesterday evening? Even the media was allowed to report it. There's no censorship here.
"What is emerging now are elements linked to political manoeuvring. It's the same old issue of Islam being threatened — when has Islam ever been threatened? I don't see any indication of Malays or Islam being threatened in our country.
"So, every time there is an election, they raise these issues, like in the Nenggiri by-election and soon in the Mahkota by-election," he told reporters today.
Mahfuz said Bersatu and its coalition, Perikatan Nasional (PN), had exhausted their political ammunition and were resorting to racial and religious sentiments.
"I believe it is because of the successes achieved by the current government, such as attracting international investors and stabilising our economy. The country's financial management is improving, and the ringgit is strengthening. There is no issue to raise.
"Hence, they come up with these claims that we are restricting freedoms. If freedom was truly restricted, that party (Bersatu) would have been banned," he added.
Hence, Mahfuz urged the people of Johor, particularly in Mahkota, to resist political elements that 'mendajjalkan' (demonised) others in the constituency's polls.
During Bersatu's eighth-anniversary ceremony yesterday, Muhyiddin accused the Madani government of becoming authoritarian, claiming that it now restricted the very freedoms it once fought for in opposition.
He alleged that Bersatu's struggle for Malays and Bumiputera rights was being suppressed, saying, "Our mouths are about to be closed, our hands and feet are about to be tied."
Mahfuz said Amanah was ready to provide support to Barisan Nasional candidate Hussien Syed Abdullah in the Mahkota by-election campaign.
"We are prepared to offer full support to the candidate, who is also a young leader, and we hope the momentum from the Nenggiri by-election will bring even greater success in Mahkota," he added.
On Saturday, Syed Hussein, who is also the Kluang Umno Youth chief, had been announced as the BN candidate for the Mahkota by-election.
The Mahkota seat was left vacant following the death of its assemblywoman, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, who was also the Umno Kluang Wanita chief. The Mahkota polls are set for Sept 28.