Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail speaking during a ceramah for the Pulai parliamentary constituency by-election at Taman Dahlia, Johor Baru on Sept 5, 2023. - Thomas Yong/The Star
JOHOR BARU: Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s “haram” comment at a by-election ceramah here has “hijacked the true teachings of Islam”, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Minister said the former prime minister’s declaration that it was “haram” or forbidden for constituents to vote for the Pakatan Harapan candidate for the Pulai parliamentary seat, Suhaizan Kayat, was against the teachings of the religion.
“There are many differences in politics. For Muhyiddin to easily deem it haram (to vote for the opponent) is clearly misleading (the people).
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“This is an action that has hijacked the true teachings of Islam,” he told reporters after a ceramah in Taman Dahlia here on Tuesday (Sept 5) night.
He was asked to comment on Muhyiddin’s remarks at a Perikatan ceramah last Saturday (Sept 2) in Taman Kempas here, where he told voters that it was “haram to give even one vote to Suhaizan”.
Saifuddin, who is also PKR secretary-general, added that on the other hand, he was not surprised that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Muhyiddin would make such a remark.
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He said that Bersatu’s coalition partner PAS today was different from the days of when the party was led by the late presidents Yusof Rawa, Datuk Fadzil Mohd Noor or spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din.
“They could accept the differences in opinions - (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), who was still in Umno at the time - was friends with them.
“This is because they understood that in politics, there is an art and courtesy to it.
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“For PAS today, under (president Tan Sri) Abdul Hadi Awang, power is everything. The strength of their party, which was originally an Islamist party, is now measured by the number of seats they won.
“Even when campaigning in Johor, they kept harping on the same thing; the unity government would fall if they won the Pulai seat - their mathematics does not make sense.
“When Muhyiddin befriended this party (PAS), it clearly shows how Bersatu has come to follow its ‘songsang’ (flawed) behaviour and habits, which is very unfortunate,” added Saifuddin.
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The Home Minister also said that action would be taken against Muhyiddin for his “fatwa” after the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections, which falls on this Saturday (Sept 9).
Yesterday (Sept 5), Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said Bukit Aman would be recording Muhyiddin’s statement next Monday (Sept 11).
Two police reports have been lodged over the issue so far.
Muhyiddin’s controversial declaration where he deemed it “haram” or sinful to vote for Suhaizan did not sit well with many, including Johor exco in charge of Islamic affairs Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid, who said that fatwa or Islamic decrees in the state could only be issued by the fatwa committee.
