Hadi wants Nurul to explain

(The Star) – PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang wants Nurul Izzah Anwar to explain her controversial “freedom of religion” statement to clear the air over the issue, which has drawn public outcry and a rebuke from the Sultan of Selangor.

“We will not make assumptions based on media reports. We must hear what she has to say,” he said when asked about the alleged statement by the PKR vice-president that freedom of religion applied equally to all, including Malays.

The Lembah Pantai MP had purportedly said this in response to a question at a forum on the Islamic state in Subang Jaya on Nov 3.

She has denied claims that her statement supports murtad (apostasy) and will meet Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) director Datuk Marzuki Husin today to clarify her remarks.

“In Islam, we cannot penalise anyone even when 1% is unclear,” said Hadi.

PAS Youth deputy leader Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz agreed with the party president, saying all quarters should wait for Nurul Izzah’s explanation.

“Only she can tell what she really meant,” he said.

Meanwhile, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan has denied that the wing was holding a protest to condemn Nurul Izzah.

“We are certainly not staging any protest against her,” he said, responding to text messages claiming that the wing would be staging such a protest.

Those sending out the SMSes were taking advantage of the situation to attack Nurul Izzah and dampen ties among Pakatan Rakyat allies, he said in a statement.