Religious leaders rally behind Anwar for political stability

SENIOR Islamic scholars from UMNO and Kelantan have voiced strong support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Unity Government, calling for it to be allowed to serve its full term to ensure political stability and continued national development.

Deputy Chairman of UMNO’s Ulama Council, Datuk Dr Khairuddin Takiri, echoed the sentiments of Kelantan’s Pondok Council Adviser, Syeikh Wazir Che Awang, who had earlier warned that frequent changes in government were detrimental to the country’s progress.

“I agree with the view of Syeikh Wazir that frequent changes in government within short spans of time are ill-suited for Malaysia,” Khairuddin said on Sunday.

“We’ve lived through that between 2018 and 2022, when the country saw three administrations in quick succession.”

Syeikh Wazir, a respected religious figure in Kelantan, urged that the Anwar-led government be maintained for the remainder of its mandate to protect the country’s Islamic and economic development, which he said had been unsettled by political instability in recent years.

His remarks come amid planned protests in the capital by opposition supporters, who are expected to stage a rally on 26 July calling for the Prime Minister’s resignation.

“Demonstrations are the breakfast of politicians,” Syeikh Wazir said, while recognising the public’s democratic right to peaceful assembly.

Khairuddin described the protest as a “political gimmick” aimed at energising core supporters rather than a genuine attempt to change the government.

“If PAS’s president is entitled to remain in office, then the same principle should apply to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Let him see through his term and carry forward his political vision for the good of the nation and the people,” he added.

The pair’s comments followed the ‘Malaysia Bermunajat 2025’ gathering at Putra Mosque on Saturday evening, where Syeikh Wazir addressed a congregation that included the Prime Minister and thousands of worshippers.

“We fully support the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. God willing, we stand behind him,” said Syeikh Wazir. “All challenges can be overcome. Malaysia can be safeguarded, and the government under Datuk Seri’s leadership can be preserved.”

The cleric further noted that Islam encourages stability in governance, suggesting that an effective administration should ideally last a decade to deliver lasting benefits.

“In Malaysia, we see governments changing every five years, two years, or even after one year, causing erratic policymaking, weakening of religious institutions, and economic decline. This is not the Islamic way,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, the Prime Minister called on Muslims to continue upholding Islamic scholarship and to strengthen cooperation between religious scholars (ulama) and government leaders (umara), especially in the face of modern challenges such as artificial intelligence and digitalisation.

Meanwhile, PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has distanced the party from a Kelantan religious scholar’s recent endorsement of the Prime Minister’s government, describing the remarks as a personal opinion rather than a religious consensus.

Speaking at the Selangor PAS Youth general assembly in Kapar on Saturday, Tuan Ibrahim said Sheikh Wazir Che Awang Al-Makki Hafizahullah, who serves as Deputy Chairman of Jabhah Pondok Kelantan, was entitled to express his views—but emphasised they did not reflect PAS’s position.

“That is his personal opinion,” he said. “I believe if there’s a new prime minister, it might improve the economy. We have our own experts who can offer better perspectives.” - July 20, 2025