Mahathir lashes out at fundamentalist

Mahathir lashes out at fundamentalist

Jasbant Singh, Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad lashed out on Saturday at the country's main Islamic opposition group, calling it "a bunch of liars" out to impose laws restricting the rights of non- Muslims.

Mahathir urged his ruling National Front coalition government to step up efforts to stem the political threat posed by the Pan- Malaysian Islamic Party, the country's largest opposition group, before upcoming elections.

"The party has very narrow views of setting up an Islamic state," Mahathir said in a speech to about 20,000 supporters.

"They are not willing to grant freedom to other races (and) they oppose the cultures of non-Muslims."

Ethnic Malay Muslims make up more than half of this prosperous Southeast Asian country's 25 million people. There are substantial non-Muslim ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

In the two states it currently runs, the Islamic party has restricted alcohol sales and segregated Muslim men and women at supermarket counters. It has tried to introduce laws such as punishing theft by amputation and adultery by stoning. Mahathir's national government has stopped such laws from being implemented. The country has 13 states.

Mahathir said the opposition fundamentalists, who have vowed to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state, have failed to spell out what their policies would be if they win power at the federal level.

"They are a bunch of liars, so that is why they won't tell us," Mahathir said.

Mahathir's anointed successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, will lead the ruling coalition in general elections due next year.

The coalition's biggest threat comes from the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party. Although it has little chance of winning national power, the party aims to gain control over more states.

Saturday's rally at a Kuala Lumpur soccer stadium marked the 50th anniversary of Mahathir's ruling coalition, and organizers said it was also a tribute to the feisty leader, due to step down in the coming weeks after 22 years in power.

The turnout was much lower than the 50,000 organizers had expected. Mahathir told his government's supporters that they needed to ensure a solid win even after he steps down from power to safeguard the interests of Malaysia's various ethnic groups.

"We must ensure that the National Front retains power as ... we uphold Islamic teachings, which allow Muslims and non-Muslims to work together," Mahathir said.

The National Front coalition, made up of 14 parties representing various ethnic groups, has ruled Malaysia since the country's independence from Britain in 1957. Mahathir has led the coalition to victory in five elections, gaining an impressive two-thirds control of Parliament each time.

Mahathir is president of the United Malays National Organization, the coalition's biggest party, which draws support from many Malay Muslims.