Islam is beyond just headscarves, Mat Taib

(The Malaysian Insider) - Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib finally joined PAS in what was the biggest open political secret these past few weeks.

And what was the first thing the ex-Umno strongman had to mouth off to show his fundamentalist Islamic credentials upon joining PAS?

“Say Islam, but look, there are schoolkids who wear skirts, they also wear baju kurung, they also wear tudung (headscarves), so it’s not clear,” Muhammad said at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

First, the man known popularly as Mat Tyson is not qualified to preach on Islam.

Wasn’t he the one caught with RM3.8 million in an Australian airport in December 1996 and forced to quit his job as Selangor mentri besar in 1997?

Wasn’t he the one who concealed his marriage to a Selangor princess in the late 1980s but later divorced her?

He seems to subscribe to a superficial brand of Islam where the outlook is far more important than the intent. Where form is more important than substance. And where wearing a headscarf is a lot more important than what a person is.

Isn’t mercy, kindness and justice important as well? Or are appearances even more important? Does wearing a skullcap and robes make a man more Muslim than his peers?

PAS will do well to consider what message they are giving to Malaysians when they admit members with such a shallow outlook.

As it is, their president’s reasons for putting up candidates against allies reflects his mindset and distrust for those with other ideologies. It surely doesn’t show that PAS is for all.