Perkasa: Bigger Christian threat with MB Khalid in charge of Islam

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

January 24, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 — Perkasa today warned of renewed efforts by Christian groups to convert Muslims in Selangor with Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim in charge of the state’s Islamic affairs.

The Malay rights group questioned the Selangor mentri besar’s religious credentials, comparing him to his recently axed state executive councillor in charge of Islam Datuk Dr Hasan Ali.

“The faith of Islam, of Muslims is under siege in Selangor... Perkasa is concerned of a more aggressive Christianisation attempt, especially with Khalid in charge of the exco portfolio for Islam,” Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali (picture) told The Malaysian Insider.

He described Hasan as a “Muslim warrior” who fervently defended Islam and ensured that Muslim apostates returned to their faith.

Hasan, a former Selangor PAS commissioner, gained notoriety last year for backing the Selangor Islamic department’s (JAIS) raid of a church over apostasy claims.

Weeks before Hasan was dropped as state executive councillor this month, he was spotted taking part in pub raids by religious authorities.

Like Perkasa, Hasan has consistently claimed there is a movement to convert Muslims to Christianity.

“Hasan was a firm exco, he is a religious man... but Khalid how is he to carry out his duties? He is also mentri besar and at the same time he lacks the religious credentials.

“What Perkasa can see is that Islam in Selangor will be weak if an unqualified person leads the state religious portfolio. If you look at any state, the exco holding this portfolio has to have an exemplary Islamic education,” said Syed Hassan.

Earlier this month, Hasan was sacked from PAS and dropped from the Selangor executive council for breaching party discipline.

He was axed after urging opposition supporters to avoid the rally on January 9 in support of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the day his sodomy trial verdict was handed down by the High Court here.

Hasan’s Islamic affairs portfolio was taken over by PKR’s Khalid, who also appointed PAS lawmaker Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi to take Hasan’s place on the council.

Syed Hassan repeated a challenge made by Hasan to Khalid recently, and dared the Selangor MB to lead Friday prayers and deliver a sermon.

“With Khalid, vice will increase in Selangor,” Syed Hassan said, echoing the words of Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

Ibrahim claimed Khalid’s role was not to uphold the interests of Muslims but was instead a political ploy to curry favour with “immoral” business owners as snap polls loom.