S'WAK POLLS Muslims in Sarawak should vote BN in the state election on May 7 so that a Muslim leader can continue to lead the Sarawak government, incumbent Nangka assemblyperson Dr Annuar Rapaee suggested.

"I call upon the Muslim community, especially those in Sibu, to be conscious about (the fact that) we are given a chance to govern the state despite us not being a majority group (in the state)," Annuar said.

"Let's not waste the chance," he said at an Islamic forum in Sibu today.

Annuar, who is also the chairperson of Sibu Muslim Welfare Trust Board (Lakis), spoke to about 400 people who attended the forum titled ‘Islamic Family and Leadership’ at the Sibu Islamic Complex.

"We should continue to defend the leadership," he said, adding that the current leadership was widely supported as it treats the Muslim community and followers of other faiths fairly.

Later, when asked to elaborate on his statement, Annuar denied playing the race and religious card by calling on Muslims to preserve the Muslim leadership.

"No, this is not me being racist. I said just now that we have been seen to play justice to everybody.

"There's nothing racist about it; please don't play with racial issues," he responded.

[Listen to Annuar's speech below]

Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari ( photo ), the incumbent state housing minister and tourism minister, who was also at the forum, cited Iraq as an example of how poor leadership could lead to the downfall of a civilisation.

"We pray that this will not happen back home," Abang Abdul Rahman, who is also PBB deputy president, said.

"People trust our leadership as we are fair to the community," he said.

The first two chief ministers of Sarawak - Stephen Kalong Ningkan, who was succeeded by Tawi Sli - were Christians.

Adenan Satem, the fifth to helm the state, and two before him - Abdul Rahman Ya'kub and Abdul Taib Mahmud - are Muslims.

According to the 2010 National Census, 42.6 percent of Sarawakians are Christian, while Muslims and Buddhists comprise 32.2 percent and 13.5 percent respectively.

Editor’s Note: Malaysiakini has amended the article and headline to reflect the exact quotes of Dr Annuar Rapee.

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