PAS stays out of Saturday rally

Harakahdaily

Oct 19: Fulfilling the organiser's wish not to involve partisan politics, PAS has decided to stay out of the so-called Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Gathering of a Million Muslims) called by several NGOs this Saturday in Shah Alam. In a statement issued following the Islamic party's political bureau meeting last night, PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang (pic) reminded that those involved in the rally must adhere to the country’s laws and ensure that harmony among adherents of different religions in the country was preserved.“Any attempt to create polemics of race and religion will render a situation which does not benefit anyone. PAS is deeply concerned that some parties will exploit it for their political and electoral interests,” he stressed. Describing the efforts to defend the Muslim faith as noble, Hadi reminded those involved to undertake their struggle in a civilised manner. “PAS supports all efforts by the NGOs to strengthen the creed (aqidah) of Muslims. PAS takes the stand that the strengthening of Muslims’ creed must be done through peaceful preaching, in the same peaceful manner Islam was accepted by people in this region," added Hadi. Earlier, there were claims of attempts by right-wing pro-UMNO politicians wanting to 'hijack' the rally and turn it into a Christian-bashing event. However, the chief organiser Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, who also heads the northern-based Malay empowerment group Teras, warned that he would reject any move to politicise or promote any hidden agenda during the event. “I will not allow this initiative to be sullied with hidden agenda from any party, and will take a firm stand on this,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini yesterday. The rally, to be held at the Shah Alam stadium, is being called following the controversy involving the Damansara Utama Methodist Church in Petaling Jaya, where a dinner event two months ago saw Muslim participants being checked by officials from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS). Recently, the Selangor sultan opined that while he did not recommend any action to be taken against the organisers of the event, he believed there had been attempts to undermine the Muslims' faith at the function.