Kelantan PAS turning on its non-Muslim supporters

 

(The Star) – Kelantan PAS is turning on its non-Muslim supporters, accusing them of undermining the party’s Islamic stand with their criticisms of the recent action against non-Muslims.

But the National Pas Supporters Congress insisted that it was only looking out for the rights of non-Muslims, especially over the “khalwat” controversy.

PAS assistant secretary-general and state executive councillor Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan accused congress chairman Hu Pang Chaw of having “bad intentions” for bringing to the media cases of action taken against non-Muslims for alleged indecent behaviour.

Hu had also criticised the issuing of summonses to non-Muslim salon workers cutting the hair of non-Muslim customers of the opposite sex.

During a visit to his Bunut Payong constituency here, Takiyuddin disputed Hu on the “khalwat” issue.

“He told the press that the municipal council had no power to issue summonses because the officer was not an enforcement officer but an administrative assistant.

“It is clear that he made the statement without checking his facts. The council officer has an authority card. If he (Hu) does not believe me, just sue the council.

“I would like it if he sues the council for having officers unauthorised to enforce the law. I am willing to defend the council myself,” said Takiyuddin, a lawyer.

Takiyuddin, who is the state Local Government, Culture and Tourism Committee chairman, had said the congress should play its role as part of the party.

It was earlier reported that the council had issued summonses to two non-Muslim men for allegedly embracing each other in a car parked near the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport at midnight on Oct 31.

The two said they were watching planes land.

The other summons was issued to a 17-year-old teenager for giving a piggy-back ride to his 15-year-old girlfriend at Taman Tunku Anis at about 5.30pm on Oct 20.

Hu said that anything said and done by the congress was in the interest of non-Muslims.

“I stand by my statement that non-Muslims have the right to voice their grouses when their livelihood or social rights are affected. I will not back out from airing such grouses under principles enshrined in the democratic process,” he said.

“I want to remind the state government that the party president (Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang) during the recent PAS Muktamar assured non-Muslims that Islamic laws would not affect them,” he said.

Hu said he was preparing a memorandum to be presented to the Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat soon to clarify the situation.