KEDAH PKR Youth says PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang should apologise to the Selangor sultan for making “irresponsible and seditious remarks”
This is after Hadi, via a statement titled “The Glory of Islam Must be Upheld”, had called for Muslims to uphold their faith in the wake of the Federal Court’s decision to strike down several provisions in a Kelantan Syariah criminal enactment.
Yesterday (Feb 29), Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah expressed displeasure at Hadi’s statement which were directed to religious scholars, lawyers, judges, members of parliament, State Legislative Assemblies and the Malay rulers.
The ruler’s private secretary Datuk Muhamad Munir Bani had said the monarch had expressed disappointment at what was said and sent a letter sent to Selangor PAS Commissioner Datuk Dr Ab Halim Tamuri dated Feb 27.
Calling Hadi’s statement “shallow”, the wing’s chief Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari said the Marang MP’s words in the “Minda Presiden” column insinuated that the rulers had been silent in upholding the Shariah institution and Islam.
“If YB Tan Sri Hadi wished to refer to the recent case of Nik Elin (Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid), he should have been aware that the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) is scrutinising the issue based on the sultan of Selangor’s wisdom and the Federal Constitution,” Dr Taufiq was reported as saying by NST.
“This issue has also been explained in detail on Feb 27, 2024 by the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) YB Senator Dr Zulkifli Hasan in a verbal reply to YB Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (in Parliament), but YB Tan Sri Hadi was absent from the session.”
According to the Sungai Petani MP, PKR Youth would continue to protect the institution of Malay rulers from parties who are out to score political mileage.
In the letter, the Selangor monarch had also said Hadi did not thoroughly understand or read the ruler’s speech during the MKI meeting on Feb 15, especially in relation to the apex court’s decision in the case which challenged the validity of 16 criminal provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Enactment 2019.
Munir had said that Hadi’s cynical statement had indirectly linked the ruler’s speech with the attitude of rulers who need to possess a vision towards Judgement Day and not to merely pursue worldly interests.
He had said Hadi’s statement was very inappropriate and uncivilised from the point of view of Malay culture, which is all about respecting and maintaining good manners when voicing one’s opinion and advice towards the Malay rulers.
Munir also said that Hadi’s statement is not only confusing but could create uneasiness which could ultimately lead to disunity among Muslims, especially among the Malays.
Investigation ongoing
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed that Hadi is being investigated over his statement, under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
However, he said police have yet to record Hadi’s statement due to the 76-year-old lawmaker’s current health status.
“We (the police) have opened and investigation paper involving the statement issued and we are waiting for a suitable time to summon him to record Abdul Hadi’s statement.
“We have yet to record his statement due to his poor health,” Razarudin was reported as saying. – Mar 1, 2024
Main pic credit: Bernama
