Najib slams rude opposition

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 18 — Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak criticised the attitude of members of the opposition parties, claiming that they were rude to national leaders in campaigning for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the opposition parties had engaged groups to shout and show lewd signs at Barisan Nasional leaders and followed these leaders wherever they went.

"The opposition did not show any respect to their opponents. Is this the image of the party that wants to rule the country?" he said when visiting the BN Youth main operations room here last night.

Nonetheless, he said, Umno Youth was still in high spirits as it treated the action by the opposition as a challenge.

On the swearing on the Quran by Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a former aide to Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, which was said to be not in accordance with the Islamic way, Najib said everyone should respect the move taken by Saiful as it was aimed at protecting his interest.

He said the swearing process was determined by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department and it was carried out after the Asar prayers beside the pulpit while holding up the Quran.

"So, who says the process was not correct. Actually, there are people who are panicking and feel pressured to the extent of entering a foreign mission," he said.

Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat on Saturday described the swearing and holding of the Quran by Saiful as not in accordance with the Islamic way and that it emulated the act of Christians who swore by holding their Bible.

-TMI

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