Ex-stalwart of Malaysia's ruling party joins opposition group

Ahead of next month's polls in Malaysia, a former stalwart of ruling UMNO party has joined opposition fundamentalist PAS party, saying it is the only group that can push for the Islamic way of life in the nation.
65-year-old Muhammad Muhammad Taib, speaking from a PAS platform for the first time, said while the nation had undergone tremendous development but it was "development without soul", which had led to moral decline among children of affluent families in the cities.
"They say Islam, but look at the newsreaders not wearing headscarves. They say Islam, but there are schoolchildren who wear skirts," he said.

"There must be soul in the content of dynamic development as development without it will result in our children becoming confused," he was quoted as saying by The Star daily.
He said he joined PAS two days after nomination to dispel allegations that he was only doing so to become a candidate or to get a post. "But (I'm doing this) to give my support to the party," he said.
Muhammad, nicknamed Mat Tyson, said he wanted to join PAS last year but waited for a more opportune time. He also called on all Malays to stay united under Islam, saying it would be easier to install Islamic values in all aspects of life within the society.

"The cities must become the beacons for Islam to spread to the rural areas, not the other way around," he said.
The general election will be held in Malaysia on 5 May.
Multi ethnic Malaysia comprises majority Malays who are all Muslims, 25 per cent ethnic Chinese who are mostly Christians or Buddhists and eight per cent ethnic Indians a majority of whom are Hindus.