M'sian Muslim Opposition Leaders More Interested In Party Rather Than Islamic Cause - Dr Mahathir

MELAKA (Malaysia), Feb 18 (Bernama) -- Muslim leaders in the opposition place more importance on the party than the Islamic struggle and, in fact, are prepared to support the cruelty of Israel to ensure that their political pact is not jeopardised, said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He also criticised the action of the opposition pact leaders who concurred with and were influenced by the statement of the opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, who supported the existence of Israel. "If they are forced to support the Jews, they (opposition) would do so whereas these people previously were purportedly fighting for the Islamic cause, particularly Nik Aziz (PAS Spiritual Leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat)," he said when asked to comment on the statement by Nik Aziz Friday describing the statement by Anwar, who supported any effort to protect Israel's safety, as quoted by the international press, the Wall Street Journal, as the stand of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People Justice Party). "I'm saying frankly...he (Nik Aziz) cannot criticise Anwar for making the claim, and today, we read in the newspapers that he (Nik Aziz) was only advising and not directing. "This will not break up the opposition pact because what is more important (to them) is not Islam, but the pact is more important. If (they) have to support Israel to preserve the pact, they will support Israel," he told reporters after the programme 'Wakaf Water4Gaza Peace Expedition', here today. Also present were Melaka's Governor Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam and chairman of the Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) Norian Mai. Meanwhile, Mahathir who is also PGPF president, said the Wakaf Water4Gaza Peace Expedition aimed to help in channeling 1.5 million bottles of mineral water for the residents in Gaza. He said the programme was crucial in the efforts to help the Palestinians who were suffering due to the shortage of clean water supply as a result of the sanctions and the destruction of the sewerage system and the water filtration plant in Gaza by the Zionist regime. Melaka was the first destination of the programme where RM100,000 (US$32, 894) had been collected from contributions by the various government agencies, non-governmental organisations and individuals in the effort to criminalise the war and champion the cause for world peace. -- BERNAMA