Kuala Lumpur, Nov 25 – Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Umno is keeping an open mind on the willingness of PAS to hold discussions with the party on matters pertaining to Islamic administration in the country.
“We are open, but we want to see what is the scope of discussion and we are seeking for further clarification from PAS,” the Prime Minister, who is also Umno president, told reporters after presenting letters of appointment to 29 members of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), here Monday.
He said this when asked to comment on the statement yesterday by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who expressed the party’s willingness to discuss with Umno on the efforts to implement administration based on Islamic teachings in the country.
Meanwhile, Najib said it was the decision of the state government when Johor decided that the weekend holidays in the state be changed to Friday and Saturday beginning Jan 1.
“It is a state decision. So under the constitution, we have to respect once the state has made a decision,” he said.
Najib said the private sectors were not affected as the decision only involved the state service.
He also said that the government was creating the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) which would house both the federal and state departments in Johor Baharu.
“The UTC will open seven days a week and people can make use of that,” he said.
Last Saturday, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had ordered that the weekend in the state be changed to Friday and Saturday effective Jan 1.
He said Friday was the most auspicious day of the week and Muslims should take advantage of the day to perform more religious deeds.
– Bernama
