SHAH ALAM: Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz says it is not surprising that Umno and PAS have joined forces, as the move is a political one.



“This is politics. They will be friendly with anyone, so I am not too surprised if they want to join (forces) with other parties for political objectives,” she said.



She said that PAS had used to label Umno members as “kafir” or infidels.



The former minister recalled an instance when a PAS member had refused to greet her while she was contesting in Kuala Kangsar, saying that she was a "kafir".



“He wants to vote, what do I care if he votes for me or not?” she said at the Bicara Minda forum organised by Sinar Harian on Monday (April 1).



Rafidah, who is also an Economic Action Council member, hit out at the way religion has been used as a political capital, and how racial rhetoric was causing division in the country.



“If you know someone who is causing division among us - why are you mingling with them?

“If a person truly loves the country, and knows that it is a multiracial country, and if that person purposely gather together with others, knowing it will cause division, that is not leadership,” she said.



Addressing questions as to why she doesn’t don a headscarf, she said that one’s religious convictions are personal.



She recalled an incident in which a PAS member had asked why she did not wear a "tudung".



Among the reasons, she had replied, was that her husband did not rule her to do so, and that it was not mandatory under the Constitution.

“If it is a sin to not wear the tudung, I will bear it, there is no nas (verse in the Quran) anywhere that whether you are from PAS or Umno, if you are buried with me, my sins will be associated with you.



“Also, according to our religion, if we have stopped menstruating, we no longer need to wear a headscarf. I have long ‘dried up’.



“It’s not as if everything will ‘rise’ if you see women’s hair," she said.



She slammed those who appeared religious on the outside, but have committed wrongdoing and practised corruption.



Rafidah also rubbished claims that she had abused her power with regard to Approved Permits (APs) when she was the International Trade and Industry Minister from 1987 to 2008.



She clarified that she had ordered more than 100 permit holders to have their APs withdrawn when they had been found to be selling them.



Those who had their APs approved, she said, also went through checks by her ministry yearly.



Rafidah added that she will not forgive the individual, who had spread such allegations, if the person does not apologise.



The forum was moderated by former Media Prima chairman and The Star columnist Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar.