(Straitstimes Asia interactive) SEPT 23, 2004 Abdullah pledges moderate Islamic government KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi promised on Thursday to implement a moderate Islamic administration, undercutting the fundamentalist opposition, and took a swipe at his one-time rival, former deputy leader Anwar Ibrahim.
Datuk Seri Abdullah asserted his control over the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno) in a keynote speech to his first party congress since taking office a year ago from long-time leader Mahathir Mohamad and adopting a less confrontational style. The five-day congress comes six months after Datuk Seri Abdullah won his own mandate in general elections where he promised to implement a moderate form of Islamic administration for the ethnic Malay Muslim majority, including mandatory Arabic studies for school children. The delegates endorsed Datuk Seri Abdullah as party president and Datuk Seri Najib Razak as deputy president. Both were unopposed. The delegates will also choose three vice presidents and a new supreme council. Datuk Seri Abdullah briefly addressed the Anwar issue in his speech - intercut with images of riot police in the streets six years ago as Anwar led huge anti-Mahathir protests - and vowed to 'bring the full force of the law against anyone or any group' using 'violence or rioting'. He said his programme for Islamic administration, first floated in the election campaign, would emphasise economic development and quality of life - essentially, the party's long-standing programme for the betterment of Malays wrapped in Islamic packaging. The programme urges Muslims to acquire knowledge and be competitive in the global economy -- a far cry from the harsh brand of Islamic law backed by the fundamentalist opposition, which advocates cutting the hands off thieves and stoning adulterers to death. Umno boasts 3 million members. It has produced every Malaysian prime minister since independence from Britain in 1957. -- AP Read Datuk Seri Abdullah's full speech from The Star Online. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved. ___________________________________________________________ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun! http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> $9.95 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything. http://us.click.yahoo.com/J8kdrA/y20IAA/yQLSAA/BRUplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. www.ppiindia.shyper.com *************************************************************************** __________________________________________________________________________ Mohon Perhatian: 1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik) 2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari. 3. Lihat arsip sebelumnya, www.ppi-india.da.ru; 4. Posting: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 5. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 6. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 7. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/