ALOR STAR – Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s aide is coming to his defence following the public backlash over recent “toddy” remarks.
There was no intention to belittle any leader or community in the process, the aide told The Vibes.
He said Sanusi wanted to highlight the overreaction of some leaders to the demolition of two Hindu shrines here.
After a series of remarks thrown back and forth, Sanusi reportedly likened those leaders to people who were “drunk on the toddy of popularity”.
The aide said the Kedah leader is a prolific writer and linguist, and prepared his own statement to respond to the outcry from DAP, PKR and MIC.
He added that Sanusi wanted to insert a proverb or a colloquial element to make his point.
“There was no ill intention on the part of the menteri besar. The proposition of insulting anyone never crossed his mind. To those who know him, he is a grassroots leader and approachable. He is not a religious zealot, as some quarters try to portray.”
The special officer said one of the messages PAS intends to bring to Kedah is the rule of law is applicable to all, adding that it is up to local councils to act on issues of relocating religious structures.
Earlier, Sanusi shared a clarification with The Vibes that the shrine in Kuala Kedah was erected only recently.
“After they (caretakers) were given a new site, they returned and expanded the original site. The notice to vacate was issued twice in 2019. They ignored it.
“There was an impression that the temple was over 100 years old, when in reality, it was only built recently.
“The original site is in the way of an expansion of a rail line.”
Sanusi had said the issue was blown out of proportion and used as a tool for political expediency.
He added that the decision to demolish the Hindu places of worship had nothing to do with race or religion, but on enforcing the law.
The situation was “twisted” to depict PAS, who is the dominant party in the state government, as an extremist political party, he said.
He gave an example of a shrine in Sg Petani that was built with illegal plastic processing factories.
The seven illegal factories and the shrine were relocated to a new site that was sanctioned and licensed by local authorities. So, why can’t the caretakers of this temple do likewise, he asked.
Sanusi said at the site in Taman Bersatu, Sg Petani, a silat arena was also demolished as it violated Section 46 (1) (a) of the Drainage and Buildings Act (Act 133), similar charge to the shrine.
He added that local authorities had demolished stalls, car parks, store rooms, fencing, kitchens and barnyards that were illegally built.
He said political leaders in the country must be problem solvers and guardians of harmony while upholding the rule of law.
“They definitely should not be the ones who discriminate. But if there are leaders who continue to exploit such issues, they should be chided.”
Leaders from both political aisles had called for Sanusi to be censured. – The Vibes, December 6, 2020
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