KUALA LUMPUR – PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang appears to intend to openly defy Terengganu state laws prohibiting political leaders and activists from delivering politically charged sermons in its mosques.
In a press conference in his constituency last night, the Marang MP answered in the affirmative when pressed by reporters on whether he will continue delivering his political lectures in mosques, despite the prohibition by the Terengganu Islamic and Malay Customs Council (Maidam).
“Yes, I will continue (delivering my sermons) as per usual (in mosques),” he said in a video of the press conference shared on his Facebook page.
He also asserted that since Maidam’s announcement of the ban on Tuesday was merely “a repeat of old instructions”, which have been in place since the 60s, there is no need for Muslim leaders to deviate from their practice of presenting religious lectures in mosques.
“We must realise that in Islam, you cannot separate politics and religion. Even the Prophet Muhammad touched on politics in his sermons.
“We (Muslim politicians) have faced (the ban) before and we will face it now as per usual. We must speak up when something is not right, be it about politics or the economy,” he said.
He added that the necessity of voicing out against “wrongness” is outlined in Islamic principles, which call for the “enjoying of good and forbidding of wrong”.
Maidam had previously said the ban was decided on after obtaining the assent of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, who expressed disappointment with the actions of politicians who have given lectures, speeches and religious lessons at mosques without the council’s approval.
Maidam governor Datuk Shaikh Harun Shaikh Ismail also stressed that mosques should not be misused to cause worry and misunderstanding among the people, including by using the location for activities that contain political elements.
The Terengganu Religious Affairs Department via the Shariah Enforcement Department has been tasked with monitoring compliance with the ban to ensure all guidelines are followed. – The Vibes, March 5, 2023
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