PKR: PM can attend but not perform Thaipusam rituals

By Shannon Teoh

February 20, 2012

Najib waves to the crowd after being garlanded at the main stage of the Batu Caves Murugan Temple compound February 7 2012. Together with him is his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. — Picture by Choo Choy May

PETALING JAYA, Feb 20 — PKR conceded today Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s visit to Batu Caves was not unIslamic as long as the prime minister did not participate in Hindu rituals, after a former Perlis Mufti pointed out Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also attended Thaipusam celebrations.

PKR secretary general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution told a press conference today he was not sure what Najib did when he visited the Gombak temple complex on February 7 but that guidelines from local religious authorities allowed Muslims to participate in cultural, not religious activities of other faiths.

“There is no problem for any leader so long as they start from these guidelines. Where was Najib? I don’t know. But to be there, to be part of the crowd is okay,” the Machang MP said.

Asri Zainul Abidin had said on Saturday that the public must be fair to Najib as Opposition Leader Anwar also attends Thaipusam.

The influential scholar said it was clear that such critics of Najib were using religion to further their own agenda and cautioned this minority group of Muslims that it was a “big sin” to exploit Islam to support their political biases.

Islamic affairs minister Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom had also said Najib’s visit was in accordance with guidelines issued by the National Fatwa Council.

“Najib was not involved in any religious ritual or event and so, the question of his faith should not arise. He followed the specified guidelines. He knows what he can and cannot do,” the senator said.

Earlier this month, Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria slammed Najib for “sacrificing his faith” by showing up at the annual Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves, the prime minister’s third visit in as many years.

Harussani had pointed out that Muslims were not allowed to join in on religious rituals conducted by other faiths.

The Mufti, however, later retracted his initial statement after accepting Najib’s clarification that the prime minister had only given a speech at the complex and did not enter the cave temple.

But PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar said it was hypocritical of Harussani “to say that, and then have a meeting with the prime minister, and all is fine.”