PAS leader Mahfuz Omar's criticism of the government's imposition of a 10 percent quota for non-Malays to enter Mara colleges landed him in a fix today when a Barisan Nasional member of parliament said his statements were against the party's constitution and deputy president Abdul Hadi Awang's stand.

Ruhanie Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) pointed this out during the debate on the quota issue in parliament and urged Mahfuz (PAS-Pokok Sena) to apologise to Hadi.

"Kiss his hand and say you are sorry," Ruhanie told the PAS Youth leader.

"This is proof that PAS' motion to debate the issue is politically motivated," he added during the government's turn to debate the motion.

This morning, Parliament Speaker Dr Mohd Zahir Ismail conceded to Mahfuz's request to debate the controversial issue.

The speaker said the motion was "specific, of public concern and urgent".

Mahfuz when arguing the need to discuss the issue said the imposition of the quota for non-Malays was against Article 153 of the Constitution which touches on Malay special rights.

Article 153, said Mahfuz, was the basis for the setting-up of matriculation courses for bumiputra students in Mara colleges to prepare them to compete with others races in institutions of higher learning.

He claimed the quota system will threaten the social ties of society and disrupt racial harmony.

Never consistent

However, Ruhanie argued that Mahfuz's claim contravened section 6 (9) of PAS' constitution (amended 1993) which states the party will champion the rights of Muslims without compromising the duty to act fairly towards all Malaysians and to promote harmony between the races.

On the other hand, he said, in 1986 Utusan Malaysia quoted Hadi as saying that if PAS came to power it would abolish the special privileges accorded to the Malays.

The BN MP said Hadi had assured the non-Malays that privileges such as the Malay reserve land and New Economic Policy would be abolished and all races will be treated equally.

"PAS has wanted to do away with Article 153 (of the Federal Constitution which touches on Malay special rights) for a long time," said Ruhanie.

"PAS is an expert in sandiwara (charades). Their stand and statements change from time to time. They are never consistent," he said.

Join Umno

Ruhanie said the split in PAS was obvious with Mahfuz attempting to project himself as an ultra Malay nationalist but Hadi intends to do away with the bumiputra privileges.

Because of such contradictory opinions, Ruhanie said Mahfuz should join Umno since he champions Malay rights.

"We can talk about the issue as much as we like at the Umno general assembly," Ruhanie cracked eliciting laughter from several MPs.

Meanwhile, Enterpreneur Development Minister Nazri Aziz refuted the opposition's allegation that the decision to open up 10 percent of Mara places for non-Malays was done in haste.

He slammed the opposition for saying that the decision was made because Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had instructed it.

"It was I who instructed Mara to do this, not the prime minister," he said.

"We had discussed the matter several times and came to a decision based on feedback," he added.

The minister argued that the 10 percent quota was necessary to help Malay students enhance their English and social skills by integrating with other races.

Not afraid

Nazri also refuted allegations that the move was politically motivated. "It is not politically motivated because we are not afraid to make decisions even if it angers the Malays".

He also assured that 5,000 places currently taken up by bumiputras will not be compromised.

"We are creating new places for the 10 percent of non-Malay students to be admitted. None of the bumiputra places will be jeorpadised," he said.

"Moreover the 10 percent is reserved for non-Malays who are poor, from rural areas and are excellent in their studies but failed to make it to public universities," he added.

He said admitting non-Malays will give Malay students the opportunity to learn and speak English to enable them to seek jobs upon graduation.

Nazri said it was wrong to think that the Malays did not need any competition.

"It's arrogant to think we are excellent or beyond competition. Excellence has to be pursued at all times, we can never attain it," he said.

DAP MPs chose to remain silent despite the party supporting the implementation quota.