Amanah president Mohamad Sabu today took a swipe at an Umno delegate for allegedly using racial sentiments to justify the RM2.6 billion donation scandal.

"This is a venomous speech. The assobiyyah ( racism ) view is one that is most damned (celaka) !" he said in his speech at the launch of Pakatan Harapan Wilayah Persekutuan in Kuala Lumpur today.

Without mentioning any names, Mohamad merely said he was referring to a speech by an Umno delegate from Penang.

"When we were still in PAS, the theme for one of our muktamar was ' Menggempur pemikiran Assabiyah ' (Challenging the racist mindset)," said the former PAS deputy president.

Mohamad claimed that the delegate had said Umno members should not be concerned with the source of the donation so long as it being used by Najib to help the Malays.

'Two choices'

At the same time, Mohamad also noted that Umno president Najib Razak's "two choices" for Malaysia was merely an introduction on things to expect in the next 14th general elections.

"Najib's choice is of remaining with Umno, the defender of Malay rights and upholder of Islam, or to be led by DAP-dominated Pakatan Harapan, supposedly anti-Islam.

"Even his speech sounded as if it was written by someone from another party. He used the term walak (loyalty), tahaluf siyasi (political cooperation)...these are words we used to hear," he quipped.

Najib had laid the choice in his policy speech, warning that the future of Malays and Muslims in Malaysia would be risk under a leadership that is allegedly anti-Islam and Bumiputera.

Mohamad said that Pakatan Harapan will be taking the new developments as a challenge.

At a press conference later, Mohamad however said he was not referring to any individual.

Referring to Najib's speech, he said the Arabic terms were not his (Najib)'s usual language. "Every leader has his own writer. Maybe this time he hired a writer with a religious background," he said.

National convention

At the same press conference, Amanah Federal Territories chief Dr Hatta Ramli said preparations are underway for the first Pakatan Harapan national convention next year.

"We are prepared to execute all plans set by the Pakatan Harapan national leaders, he said, adding that no formal agreement was signed today.

Also present at the launch were DAP Federal Territories secretary Lim Lip Eng and PKR FT chief Dr Idris Ahmad.

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