by Melissa Lee
PAS president Hadi Awang said his party will not take in the
Himpun rally planned for October 22.
The Gathering of One Million Muslims is widely believed to be
a political event brought about by Selangor Umno in a bid to galvanize Malay
support against the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government.
“Any efforts to raise a religious and racial polemic will not
create an environment which is beneficial to anyone. PAS views with gravity all
attempts by anyone to take advantage of the situation for political or
purposes,” Hadi said in a statement on Tuesday.
PKR and DAP, the other two partners in the Pakatan Rakyat
coalition, will follow the line adopted by PAS. Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim
said Pakatan would let the Islamist PAS make the decision on behalf of the
coalition.
Peaceful
and not angry ways
Indeed, while Himpun, a coalition of Muslim NGOs, has denied
poltiical links, that has not stopped Umno leaders and their allies including
Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali, Umno Senator Ezam Mohd Noor and PKR turncoat
Zulkifli Noordin from using the rally as a platform to defend the Selangor
Sultan's controversial ruling on the Jais-DUMC incident.
In doing so, many Christians have felt angered and see the
event as a means for 'extremist groups' to rub salt into their wound over the
incident, where they believed they had been unfairly accused of trying to
proselytize Muslims.
Many Islamic practitioners have advised against the event as
it might create unnecessary division amongst the races, prompted by those with
political rather than religious interests.
“PAS is of the position that to strengthen the faith of
Muslims, it must be done through peaceful and not angry dakwah (preaching)
which is how Islam has been accepted by society in this region," said
Hadi.
The
Bersih contrast
The Himpun event was announced shortly after the Sultan's
decision and its goal is to condemn apostasy and warn other faith against
proselytizing Muslims.
That Prime Minister Najib Razak is encouraging the event is
clear, given the speed with which the police approved the permit for the rally.
That has also riled up many supporters of the July 9 Bersih
rally for free and fair elections, when police not only refused to give a
permit but outlawed the coalition of NGOs that organised the peaceful assembly.
Many Pakatan Rakyat, including PAS, members had taken part in
Bersih and were injured by the brutal police crackdown ordered by the Najib
administration.
“PAS has been informed that the event does not wish to
involve political parties, thus PAS’ position is to not participate in the
rally to respect the wishes of the organizers,” said Hadi.
Source : MC
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