Deputy Minister Mashitah Ibrahim's article in Utusan Malaysia irks the PAS women's wing. The latter says the party is always committed to its Islamic values.
KUALA LUMPUR: The PAS women’s wing has taken a deputy minister to task for alleging that the Islamist party no longer defends the Islamic state concept because it is power crazy.
The wing’s information chief Aiman Athirah Al Jundi dismissed the argument by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mashitah Ibrahim (photo) as “rubbish”.
Mashitah’s allegation was made in her article titled “Episod-episod pembohongan PAS” (Episodes of PAS lies) published in the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia daily on Sept 12.
“This article is completely rubbish… it contains elements of propaganda, is not based on truth and reflects a culture that is prejudiced against Islam by someone who is well learned in Islam,” Aiman told a press conference here.
“We take her allegations seriously, especially where she said, ‘In order to gain a little bit more power, PAS no longer defends the Islamic state concept, and coorperates with issues like the sale of alcohol and massage parlours in Selangor,” she added.
Aiman said that such allegations were done in bad faith.
Defending PAS, she said the party had never compromised on its religious values, adding that the party’s constitution stated that Islam was the basis for the party’s struggles and this had not changed since its formation in 1951.
This ideal, she added, was reinforced by party president Abdul Hadi Awang during the recent muktamar (annual general assembly) in his speech which called for a welfare state.
Aiman also said that it was unbecoming of a senator and a deputy minister to make such baseless allegations.
She added that she was not going to rebut the allegations point for point but instead challenged Mashitah to a debate, forum or dialogue organised by the Muslimat.
“It depends on which format she prefers and dares to pick. She can repeat her allegations one by one and we will rebut.”
A debate, forum or dialogue, Aiman said, will help to “enlighten the minds of the people” over the matter. She also added that a letter of invitation will be sent to Mashitah soon.
‘Pahang government bankrupt?’
On another matter, PAS central committee member, Khalid Samad slammed Sementa state assemblyman Rahman Palil and Selangor Umno Youth chief Ungku Salleh Ungku Jamal for their remarks over the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS)’s charge against him (Khalid).
Khalid was charged last week by JAIS for giving an unauthorised sermon in a mosque regarding Islam. He was highly critical of the move by JAIS to charge him.
Khalid who is also the Shah Alam MP claimed that the Rahman Palil and Ungku Salleh had made derogatory remarks against him.
“One even said that it was my nature to go against the law. How can he say that when he does not even know me personally,” he said.
Khalid also referred the two to the the ongoing hunger-strike by workers from logging firm Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd against the Pahang government.
The workers have been on hunger strike since last Thursday to pressure the Pahang government to abide by a court ruling to pay their company RM70 million.
Khalid said the these workers were only demanding their due as granted by the court and the Pahang government’s indifference to their plight reflected poorly on it.
“The Pahang government is behaving like a gangster government or in the worse case, they are bankrupt. It reflects their contempt for the law,” he said.
The company had in 2002 sued the state for breaching a logging contract and the Kuantan High Court ruled in their favour in May 2007.
It ordered the Pahang government to pay them more than RM37 million plus interest of 8% per annum. The total came close to RM70 million.
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