Stop Tarnishing Image Of Islam With Lies Anwar Tells Pas Leaders

---

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has taken a swipe at PAS leaders whom he accused of tarnishing the image of Islam by spreading "lies and slander" for their own party's political interests
"I would like to advise that Muslims are forbidden from spreading slander
"They (PAS) can lie, now they can slander... but if they want to use politics as grounds to spread slander and lies, then don't use the name of Islam," said Anwar, who zeroed in on PAS Youth chief Khalil Abdul Hadi's reported claims that he was the mastermind behind an alleged plot to topple Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad through a vote of no confidence in Parliament
Khalil had reportedly made the claims based on Anwar's initial outburst in response to the no-confidence vote issue first raised by PAS leaders earlier this week
"He (Khalil) is tarnishing Islam's image by using the name of an Islamic party. Islam's image has been sullied. Non-Muslims will say 'oh, syeikhs can now lie, syeikhs can now slander'
"So I would like to advise, from one Muslim to another... stop this politics of lies and slander," Anwar told reporters after attending a Chinese New Year open house organised by the Lembah Pantai federal constituency in Kuala Lumpur today
The Port Dickson MP also claimed that PAS' move to play up the no-confidence vote issue was an attempt to divert attention from allegations that it had received funds from Umno
Pressed on whether he denied PAS' claims of being the mastermind behind an alleged plot to oust Mahathir, Anwar took another swipe at PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang
"Lies and slander. (If) you ask again, (you) are also Ustaz Hadi's student," he stressed
Anwar also urged Harapan leaders to not fall into Hadi's political game and series of lies, including the alleged no-confidence plot
"He (Abdul Hadi) wants to close the RM90 million funds case that PAS received from Umno
"That is the main issue and now we want to focus on developing the nation and solving the country's economic problems," he said
Khalil in a statement earlier today said PAS will not benefit from any move to push for a vote of no confidence against Mahathir, unlike Anwar whom he said have been eyeing the prime minister's post
Khalil was responding to Anwar's statement yesterday that Hadi was the one who wanted a vote of no confidence against Mahathir
PAS had recently alleged that Harapan leaders were attempting to oust Mahathir, fuelled by unhappiness over Hadi's latest meeting with the Harapan chairperson
Hadi on Thursday had reiterated that in the event such a motion was pushed in Parliament, PAS lawmakers would stand behind Mahathir
Various Harapan leaders have since denied the alleged plot to oust Mahathir
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail denied that PKR and DAP are not campaigning for Bersatu's candidate Muhammad Aiman Zainali in the Semenyih by-election
She said it was not logical for PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to allege that both parties were not helping on the ground
"That is not logical. In whatever way we work, we hope the voters will vote for us," she was quoted by The Star as saying at a gotong-royong programme at Bandar Rinching Seksyen 6 today
Yesterday, Hadi said that PAS should not be at fault if Harapan lose in the Semenyih poll because both PKR and DAP were not campaigning for Bersatu.  - Mkini

---