Kedah PAS sees red over Langkawi beauty pageant

(Malay Mail Online) – Kedah PAS’s Ulama wing hit out at state Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir for allegedly “allowing” beauty pageant Miss Tourism International to be held at the Berjaya Langkawi Resort, Langkawi next month.

According to PAS’ news portal Harakah Daily, by doing so Mukhriz has failed to distinguish between “the good and the bad”, since the event supposedly does not symbolise the culture, identity and the public in Malaysia.

“We believe this matter was not referred at all to the mufti first. In comparison, when Mukhriz first started, even the official logo of Kedah was referred to the mufti,” the wing’s secretary Ahmad Yahaya told Harakah.

Ahmad claimed the event counters against the teaching of Islam and allegedly breaks a fatwa, or a religious edict, in the state.

Unlike Selangor, Penang, Terengganu, Sabah and the Federal Territories, Kedah does not have a fatwa against beauty pageants.

Furthermore, the fatwa in the five states only apply to Muslim women’s participation in them.

Ahmad claimed that during the short-lived rule of Kedah by PAS mentri besar Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak, the state government had tried to reduce vice in the island.

“Therefore, Kedah PAS’ Ulama wing urges Mukhriz to set his real stand towards Kedah folks’ identity which he moulds for the future, and not to just focus on his dream mega projects,” he said.

“We also urge religious authorities to not stay silent, and take this matter seriously and see the possibilities in the future so that it can be tackled before it festers.”

Kedah fell to Pakatan Rakyat after Election 2008, until May last year when Barisan Nasional regained the state in the 13th general election.