PAS Sabah takes exception to LDP senator’s extremist claims
KOTA KINABALU: PAS Sabah Deputy Commissioner III Hamid Ismail yesterday condemned Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) deputy president Senator Datuk Chin’s speech during the opening of the party’s Women and Youth Annual Conference on Sunday.
According to Hamid, Chin had pointed out the recent Oktoberfest Beer Festival held in Selangor organized by non-Muslims and used as a tool by extremists to drive their own agendas.
According to him, PAS had openly opposed the festival as well as the ‘I want to Touch A Dog’ event and it even proposed tabling the Private Members’ Bill to implement Hudud law in Kelantan.
“Datuk Chin was reported to have said PAS’ political ideology had completely disregarded the feelings of other races in the diverse society in Malaysia.
“I condemn the above statement. PAS is not an extremist party. When PAS opposed the Octoberfest Festival and the ‘I Want to Touch A Dog’ event, it had valid reasons.
“In respect to the festival, PAS had objected to it because Islam is the national religion and the event was big and open. It is on that basis that PAS was against the festival. But PAS does not prohibit non-Muslims from drinking alcoholic drinks. Just look in Sabah, have we stopped the non-Muslims from drinking alcoholic drinks?
“In Sabah, the prohibition to drink alcoholic drinks only applies to Muslims by virtue of 57(1) and 57(2) Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1995,” he said.
“In respect to the ‘I Want to Touch A Dog’ event, PAS has nothing against dogs. It is the way the event was conducted that raised concerns. Malaysian Muslims traditionally follow the Shafie school of jurisprudence which has a stricter view of dogs. Hence, on that ground, touching a dog without valid reasons is not allowed for Muslims. But if a dog is sick, thirsty or in grave danger such as drowning, Muslims should and must help that dog even it involves physical contact. In our Prophet Muhammad’s sunnah, there is a story about a prostitute who was rewarded with heaven just because she gave water to a thirsty dog. In the event ‘I Want To Touch A Dog’, some Muslims had done more than touching. They hugged dogs for no valid reasons. That should not have happened,” Hamid further explained.
He also said Chin must realize that it was not only PAS that had opposed the Octoberfest event, Umno had objected too.
He added that Selangor Umno liaison chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar also said being a multi-racial country was not a reason to hold such event because it challenged the nation’s status as an Islamic nation, and it promoted alcoholic drinks to the Muslim society in Malaysia.
“Umno Youth exco member Dr Fathul Bari Mat Yahya also had quite similar views with a PAS leader, MP Temerloh Nasrudin Hasan. The former said the festival should be held in an enclosed area and not in the open, while the latter said the festival should be done behind closed doors and not promoted as a festival.
“In respect of the ‘I Want to Touch A Dog,’ even the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim), in reprimanding the organiser of the ‘I Want To Touch A Dog’ advised those involved to never again organise programmes that touched on the sensitivities of Muslims. Selangor and Pahang muftis also shared t he same sentiment.
“As to PAS’ proposal to table the Private Members’ Bill to implement Hudud law in Kelantan, Umno had proposed the establishment of a national-level technical committee on Hudud law before being tabled by PAS.
“Hence, should Umno and those muftis be regarded as extremists too who had disregarded the feelings of other races in Malaysia?,” he asked.
Based on the explanations, Hamid expressed hope that Chin would be very careful in making any statements regarding PAS.