SHAH ALAM: A Perikatan Nasional Federal Government will not be like the Taliban government in Afghanistan, says the coalition chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He added voters should not worry if a “green wave” sweeps the six states in the coming state elections. The green wave refers to support for PAS, a term associated with the colour of the PAS party logo.
“There are some concerns that the so-called PAS, or Perikatan-led government, would be different. Some people even say it will be ‘worse than a Taliban government’.
“I don’t even know what the Taliban is all about, but I have heard of it.
“It (the Perikatan administration) would be a fair government,” he said at the K-Pro Professionals Convention Malaysia here yesterday.
The event involved a gathering of young professionals to learn more about Perikatan Nasional’s vision for national development.
He was responding to a question from a participant on the type of federal administration that would be formed by Perikatan. The term “Taliban” is often used to describe the strict Islamic rule in Afghanistan.
On PAS, Muhyiddin said he didn’t know how the term “green wave” came about.
“It doesn’t matter now as I can say that there will be both a green and blue wave together under Perikatan,” he said.
Muhyiddin reminded the participants that when PAS was in the Perikatan Federal Government previously, issues related to race or religion were never brought up during the government’s Cabinet meetings.
PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who was also at the event, said his party members must address concerns raised about the Islamist party. He added some of the concerns may be due to a “slip of the tongue” by certain PAS leaders, which gave the wrong impression about PAS.
Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who is now being investigated by the police over claims that he disparaged the Sultan of Selangor.
He is also under investigation for touching on issues involving race, religion and royalty (3R).
At a press conference later, Ahmad Samsuri, who is Terengganu Mentri Besar, said that there must be a level playing field for both ruling and opposition parties in the state elections.
“If you want political parties not to raise sensitive matters, it should apply to all parties which includes both the ruling and opposition sides,” he added.
State elections will be held in Kedah, Terengganu, Kelantan, Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor on Aug 12.
Perikatan will maintain the PAS logo for Kelantan and Terengganu while it will use its coalition blue logo for the other four states.
