MUSLIM LEADERS MUST ADMINISTER ACCORDING TO PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS, SAYS DR MAHATHIR

JOHOR BAHARU (Johor, (Malaysia) Feb 21 (Bernama) -- The political agitation in several Islamic countries in West Asia and northern Africa demands that Muslim leaders must administer nations according to the expectations of the people, former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Monday.
He pointed out that 20 per cent of the people in Egypt were unemployed while fresh graduates in Tunisia failed to secure jobs.
"The image of Islam gets tarnished by the failure of Muslim leaders in administrating nations, leading to revolts," he said when opening a seminar on Islamic solidarity organised by the Council of Johor Islamic Organisations, here.
Dr Mahathir, who is president of the Muslim Welfare Organisation of Malaysia (Perkim), said the situation was different in Malaysia where the government strived to create jobs for the people.
He said some of the countries facing upheaval received aid to finance their administration from countries known to dislike Islam.
"These governments are funded by those who have interests contrary to those of Muslims and the Islamic religion," he said.