Najib goes 'Arabic' to out-Islamize PAS but keeps Muslims guessing on GE date

KUALA LUMPUR: THE Pas leadership has got its priorities wrong by requesting party members planning to perform the haj to defer it due to the coming general election, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak. The prime minister said it was unbelievable that a party which claimed to be championing Islam was willing to make such a call just for the sake of maximising its chances of winning an election. "Performing the haj is fardu ain (personally obligatory) for those who are capable of doing so, whereas to cast a vote in a general election is fardu kifayah (communally obligatory). "So, which is regarded as higher by Allah and Islam? Please answer," he said when launching the Ulama and Umara (scholars and leaders) Secretariat at Putra World Trade Centre here. Pas had recently asked its members to defer performing the haj as it believed the general election may be held during the haj season, which this year is between September and October. Pas information chief Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was quoted as saying that the deferment of haj under such circumstances was reasonable as Pas needs the party machinery to be fully functioning for the election. At the function, Najib also launched a book entitled Agenda Islam Dalam Transformasi Negara (Islamic Agenda Within The National Transformation), published by the secretariat, containing a collection of his speeches and messages since 2009. Najib said the book was evidence that the government was serious in developing and enhancing the Islamic agenda in this country. - New Straits Times Jarumemas: Just waiting patiently when PM is going to announce the date.