Debunk PAS’ claim, Muslims told

A spokesman for Bebas said the faithful mustn't be tricked into thinking that they are required to support Hadi's bill.

PETALING JAYA: A civic group has urged Muslims wishing for a moderate Malaysia to debunk the notion that they are religiously obliged to support PAS’ proposal to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act of 1965.

Speaking to FMT, Bebas spokesman Azrul Mohd Khalib expressed dismay that PAS had managed to influence a large number of Muslims into believing that their religion required them to support the private member’s bill that its president, Abdul Hadi Awang, is set to table in the Dewan Rakyat.

Azrul accused PAS of “duping everyday Muslims”.

He said many ordinary Muslims were not looking at the “nitty gritty” of the proposed amendments. “All they hear is that this is God’s law, this is Islam and therefore there is no option,” he said. “This is why people like me and other people wanting a fairer and moderate Malaysia will ask questions and challenge Hadi.”

He was speaking outside the Petaling Jaya Police Headquarters yesterday after police questioned him regarding the Bebas rally on Feb 18, the same day that PAS rallied supporters of the bill, often referred to as RUU355.

“The police wanted to make sure we operated within the law, which we did as we had given them 10 days’ prior notification and also informed MBPJ (Petaling Jaya City Council) that we wanted to use Tasik Taman Jaya for our peaceful assembly.”

Azrul shrugged off the low turnout at the Bebas rally, saying he was satisfied that his group had exercised its right to freedom of expression.

“One thing needs to be made clear,” he said. “When we organised the counter rally we knew that there weren’t going to be 30,000 people at Tasik Taman Jaya. In fact, we told the media that we only expected a maximum of 100 people. The reality is that 250 people showed up.

“The idea is that we exercised our right to freedom of expression and the freedom to assemble peacefully on that particular day. In fact, I started off the rally by congratulating PAS in Padang Merbok for exercising its right to assembly as well.” -FMT