Kassim Ahmad goes over the top on Anwar Ibrahim

June 30, 2012

Kassim Ahmad goes over the top on Anwar Ibrahim

by Fathi Aris Omar & Jimadie Shah Othman

INTERVIEW: There may be no Malay intellectual more opposed to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim than Kassim Ahmad.

To him, Anwar is a "forked-tongued" politician and a slandering "traitor" to the nation who has been implicated in various issues such as accepting foreign funds.

At the mere mention of his name, the controversial author's tone hardened. He repeatedly expressed his desire to "spit", "hang", "behead" and "slap" the de facto PKR leader."As I have said, I am willing to hang Anwar to death. Even now I am willing to shoot him". "He is evil," said Kassim while defending Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on the Altantuya Shaariibuu issue.

The supposed link between the Premier and the Mongolian national is just "slander" by Anwar, he told Malaysiakini at his home in Kulim.The authorities need not fear taking action against Anwar despite his oratory skills, because he has been accused of repeatedly lying, he added.

Even Pakatan Rakyat is uneasy with the Opposition Leader, he charged, citing DAP chairperson Karpal Singh's "slip of the tongue" on the non-Malay Prime Minister issue.

The interview with Malaysiakini had not even begun when Kassim read out a letter in The Star criticising Anwar in relation to foreign observer groups at the BERSIH 3.0 rally.

Nik Aziz 'deified'

The international group on an electoral system fact-finding mission consisted of Anwar's friends, alleged the letter, among other things. Kassim then went on to heavily criticise PAS spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat , saying he feels that Nik Aziz is too deified by his followers.

His criticisms were vague, but he frequently mentioned the culture of "feudal ulama (religious scholars)" in the Islamic party.

He is known to be critical of the scholar "caste" in Islam. Shifting to fellow comrade PKR senator Syed Husin Ali's joining of Pakatan, Kassim said the former PKR Deputy President was just "being influenced".Syed Husin was formerly with Kassim in Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia (PSRM). Kassim headed the leftist party from 1966 to 1984, and was succeeded by Kampo Radjo and then Syed Husin.

"When Anwar was sacked (from UMNO and the government in 1998), thousands came to listen to him speak. He claimed that it was a people's uprising. I said masya-Allah, (Adolf) Hitler also gathered millions," he said.

'Late and stupid'

However, Kassim's 'cold war' with Anwar may have begun even earlier in 1986, when he believed that Anwar was behind the banning of his controversial book Hadis: Satu Penilaian Semula (Hadith: A Re-evaluation).

Anwar  conspired with the "scholars" to pressure him despite initially agreeing with him "in principle", he claimed.In the 1990s, Anwar blocked his proposal to hold a dialogue with Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria on the contents of his book, despite Dr Mahathir Mohamad's supposed approval, he added.

Even his first meeting with Anwar was not encouraging, when the former Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) leader arrived 45 minutes late, he revealed.

"When I entered, I spoke. He listened but did not say a word. That is Anwar. He was afraid, really afraid that I would write or ask him anything.That is my experience with Anwar – once he was late, once he acted stupidly," he said.—www.malaysiakini.com

Read More @ Source

More » Barisan Nasional (BN) | Pakatan Rakyat (PR) | Sociopolitics Plus | 大马社会政治