KUALA LUMPUR – After coming under heavy fire over its contentious comments on the Bon Odori festival, PAS has accused the opposition of fishing in troubled waters by pitting the Islamist party against Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
Selangor PAS secretary Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir said history has shown that PAS has been one to consistently defend and exalt the Malay rulers despite attempts by other quarters to undermine the royal institution in the past.
He also jumped to the defence of Datuk Idris Ahmad, saying that the comments by the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic affairs was not a personal opinion or in his capacity as PAS vice-president.
He said that Idris’ official statement was based on studies and the views of the Islamic Development Department (Jakim).
Idris had advised Muslims not to participate in the Japanese festival to be held at the Shah Alam Sports Complex on July 16 as it contains elements of other religions and could lead to confusion, affecting the Muslims’ beliefs.
“Advice is not an order. You have a choice. Whether you want to heed or not is up to you. But it doesn’t mean he wants to cancel the festival altogether,” Roslan Shahir said in a recent Facebook post.
“Subsequently, the sultan of Selangor also commented on the same issue, all centring around the need to safeguard the welfare and interests of Muslims and the Malaysian community. There is no element of politics in this issue.
“Unfortunately, the opposition is trying to take advantage, by supposedly claiming PAS and the minister have been disloyal (derhaka) towards the sultan. There is an obvious attempt to pit the two parties.”
Idris’ comment has since been lambasted by various parties, with the Selangor sultan also decreeing that the Selangor Islamic Religious Department not prevent the celebration or obstruct anyone from attending the event.
His Majesty also warned Idris not to issue confusing and inaccurate statements that would undermine Jakim’s image and reputation, and suggested that the minister attend the festival to see for himself the difference between culture and religion.
Despite this, PAS continues to defy the ruler, with its ulama council and the women’s wing recently doubling down on discouraging Muslims from participating in the event, saying it contains elements of Buddhist rituals.
Teluk Intan MP Nga Kor Ming was among those who slammed the Islamist party, accusing it of being openly derhaka.
PAS kini secara terbuka derhaka terhadap titah diraja Sultan Selangor. #SiapaDerhaka @staronline pic.twitter.com/2GTeEta7rH
— Nga Kor Ming (@NgaKorMing) June 10, 2022
Roslan, however, instead asserted that the parties that have disobeyed the sultan’s decree are PKR and DAP.
To prove this point, he uploaded a copy of Sinar Harian’s front page dated September 8, 2014, which carried the headline “PKR, DAP Biadap”, in relation to the parties’ decision to disregard a royal decree to nominate more than two candidates for the Selangor menteri besar’s post during the political crisis then.
“When Tun Dr Mahathir Muhammad was prime minister and he wanted to amend the constitution to limit the powers of the Malay rulers, PAS’ sole MP then Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat had opposed the amendment on behalf of PAS.
“Malay customs forbid disobedience towards the sultan, and in maintaining decency and morality, PAS will never get involved in such acts,” he said. – The Vibes, June 15, 2022
