KUALA LUMPUR: Unlike Pas, Umno is not a "political chameleon" who will change its colours to fit its political ambitions.

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, seemingly throwing several jabs at the Islamist party, said Pas had used the religion for political mileage, including in the issue of the word "Allah".

"Now they want to be seen as the champions, by altering facts saying the government today had 'pawned away' the word Allah.

"In reality, Umno's had never budged even an inch.

"Umno and our representatives in the government, without having to cluck like a rooster, have stressed that 'Allah' cannot be used by any other religion in Peninsula," he said in his policy speech at the Umno General Assembly here, today.

He said Pas, when they were part of Pakatan Harapan (PH), had said it was not wrong for other religions to use the word "Allah".

"Whatever their argument, what's clear, they will change skins according to their surroundings.

"Malay and Islam, to them, are only masks that they put on in their political drama."

He alluded that Pas, who claimed to be the saviours of the Malays, used Quranic verses to issue "political fatwa" according to their whims and fancies.

In the issue of hudud, he said Pas had labelled Umno as kafir (infidels) for its reluctance to implement the Islamic law, but in the name of political greed, had also said hudud was not a priority.

"When they were in the government, what happened to their hudud agenda?" he questioned.

He said Pas accused Umno of hiding behind the Bumiputera agenda, but allegedly abused their power in the Jana Wibawa scandal.

"These are the characteristics of those who use the slogan 'clean and stable'."

Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said despite "political adjustments" that had to be made after the formation of the unity government, any issue concerning Islam, the Malays and the Bumiputera had never been challenged by any of Umno's political partners.

He said he hoped this partnership would erase any doubts among party members, and hoped there would not be any more statements from its allies that would hurt the feelings of the Malays.

"The same goes to us. Avoid speech and actions that can cause uneasiness among our friends and colleagues.

"If anyone tries to play with sentiments claiming that Umno's political partnership will erode the position of Islam, the Malay and the Bumiputera, I would like to stress that Umno is not a political chameleon."

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/06/918157/zahid-pas-altered-facts-changes-colours-fit-political-ambitions