Penang PKR Youth today called on Najib Abdul Razak to quit as prime minister with immediate effect for his perceived failure in handling the controversial 'Allah' issue.

The movement's secretary Syed Mikael Rizal Aidid blamed Najib's slackness and inefficiency in not nipping the problem in the bud as the main reasons for the controversy to grow into a threat to national harmony and community relations.

He said Najib's indecisiveness had contributed to the current 'uneasy' communal relationship between Muslims and Christians in the country.

"Penang PKR youth urges the prime minister to resign immediately for failing to uphold the integrity and dignity of Islam in this country.

penang pkr urge najib step down 060110 syed mikael "He failed to tackle the issue effectively and decisively," Syed Mikael ( left ) told a press conference at the PKR state office in Seberang Jaya yesterday.

He said as a movement of a multi- racial party representing all communities, it viewed seriously the deleterious state of community relations triggered by the controversy.

"It could threaten national harmony if not tackled promptly," said Syed Mikael, who is also the special assistant to Penang assembly speaker Abdul Halim Hussain.

Yesterday the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted a stay in favour of the Home Ministry to stop the Catholic weekly magazine Herald from using the word 'Allah' pending an appeal .

Najib also had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin yesterday to explain the issue on the use of the word 'Allah' and measures taken by the government to find a solution to the problem.

Sly Umno ploy to distract attention

Syed Mikael also challenged Najib to adopt the same seriousness and swiftness in tackling the issue as when he engineered the Perak coup early last year.

He said the movement believes the whole controversy was a political ploy by Umno and the Barisan Nasional to divert public attention from other pressing national issues.

rosmah hilton hotel 221209 rosmah smile He cited the mysterious loss of two RM50 million each jet engines from the Sungai Besi air force station and the scandalous RM600,000 expenses incurred by Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor ( right) during a trip abroad as among the major issues that the Umno-dominated government was anxious to avoid public scrutiny.

He also noted that the imminent hike in sugar prices that could spark inflation was also another reason for the Putrajaya administration's political game on the 'Allah' controversy.

He said the issue seemed to have been planned from the initial stage to woo the majority Malay - Muslim voters, who have moved away from Umno and BN.

He accused Umno of attempting to portray itself as champion of Islam by playing up the 'Allah' issue to stir up Muslim sentiment.

"Umno is trying to become instant champions of Islam to win back its lost electoral grounds among Muslims.

"It won't be a shocker if Najib were to be hailed Islamic hero in the process," said Syed Mikael.